Day 24: On Discipline

The word "discipline" tends to get a bad rap.  In my mind, at least, it frequently conjures up images of humiliation at the hands of foul-mouthed drill sergeants, parents who micro-manage their child's every move or punishment exacted from some failure or misconduct.  But I am certainly learning the value of discipline in a new way this Lent.

The words "discipline" and "disciple" enjoy the same origins and both are concerned with teaching and instructing.  I bring this word up because one of the Richard Foster quotes from the Jim Wallis article I read yesterday is, "More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us."  That is certainly a lesson I am learning this Lent.  Discipline does not have to be about being stern, unbending, cruel or self-loathing.  Discipline is an opportunity to teach oneself (or, in the case of fasting, allowing God to teach oneself) what is important in life.  Right now, I would love nothing more than to crack open that bag of potato chips sitting in the kitchen for Aidan's First Communion party tomorrow.  It's Friday afternoon and an ice cold beer sounds delicious too.  A nap sounds like a great idea but we have a household of people en route and there is still some cleaning to do (of course, here I sit writing . . . I'm justifying it by the fact that it would be anti-social to write this later when the company arrives).  These and so many other things that are so available to me whenever I want can certainly have control over me.  Oh, and instead of thinking about food, I could actually take some time to do something productive like pray, play with my kids or read a good book.

What would my life be without discipline?  What kind of person would I be if I just followed my desires whenever I felt like it?  It certainly would not be a life in tune with the gospel since that sort of un-disciplined self would make me a very questionable sort of husband, father, friend, teacher and neighbor. Rather than looking at discipline as some sort of dirty word, I am finding discipline to be a rewarding challenge and an opportunity to learn that, in turn, has the potential to make me a better person.


I have no idea what lessons of self-discipline I will carry with me after this Lent is over.  Perhaps it will be something as simple as learning what I can and cannot live without; what some of the things are that control me.  And that would certainly be a valuable enough lesson to learn.