The noun, rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.

You may have seen in the news, there have been several incidents this summer where a tourist came too close a buffalo in Yellowstone National Park and was gored. Not heeding the warnings and regulations at the park, the tourist would get within six feet or so from the buffalo to take a picture causing the buffalo to become irritated and react. The rule is never to get closer than 25 yards or 75 feet from a buffalo.

As I thought about this, I saw a similarity to our spiritual lives.

The devil is very clever and is always enticing people to do something that can cause one to sin or tempting someone to see how far one can stretch what they are doing just stopping short of sinning.

The crazy thing about coming close to doing something we know is wrong is sometimes the momentum is such we cannot stop. For example, we tease someone until she or he explodes or gets hurt and then an argument ensues.

Or we think we can handle one more alcoholic beverage and then find ourselves impaired.

Or we see a member of the opposite sex as an object of fantasy versus a person with dignity with so much more worth than what that person may look like.

Or we stop saying daily prayers one or two days due to being tired and then develop the habit of praying much less often, perhaps only on Sunday.

We need to avoid temptations before they get out of control. Remembering the adage, “get too close to the fire and you will get burned”.

May God give us this grace.