On Karmic Sins

We’re all Sinners.

In fact, we sin every day but we think we can get away if we don’t verbalize it.

It’s not always the big capital sins: murder, rape, theft, cheating.

Most often, it’s the little things: white lies, sins of omission, meanness, wanton stupidity, greed, lust, coveting stuff or a general need or want to be different, bigger, grander, smarter without just merits.

And because we do, God punishes us all.

People believe in Karma.

They are perhaps wrong. Or maybe not. Who knows!

I for one believe in God. A God who sees all. Who bides His Time until when He punishes you for your transgressions. God sees everything. Good or Bad. Right or Wrong. Because God has given each of us Free Will.

We are free to choose our destiny. Most of us choose poorly. Some choose wisely.

Nobody gets away unscathed from the consequences of their actions… or lack thereof.

I speak from experience.

One day, not too long ago, I noticed a tree was down behind the house. It had obviously died some time back and the latest storm had brought it down.

I proceeded to ignore it for a couple of months. Until one day I decided to do something about it. I used an electric pole chainsaw to cut through the thinner branches but eventually I had to borrow a regular gas chainsaw from a neighbor to finish the job.

The thing is because I had waited too long, summer was upon us and nature had fully awakened with all its array of good and bad plants.

Now, I had to go inside the bush to take care of business and chop down a rather large couple of dead tree trunks. While doing just that, I contrived to get a severe case of poison ivy contact dermatitis. Or on second thought, I could have developed dermatitis from 1 hour exposure to saw dust. Again, my fault for not wearing any form of protection. I did list Stupidity among the lesser sins. I do believe it should have its own category.

Dante was wrong not to add It to his litany of sins for which sinners were punished in his Inferno.

Now, I itch across my lower body, belly, and one arm. I itch so badly, I look and feel as if I have smallpox, God forbid. Poison Ivy and/or sawdust will do that to you. The sensation starts close to orgasm and ends up in dejected misery whereby scratching doesn’t provide relief.

Scratching is merely the beginning… of the end.

And the worst part, is that it comes and goes. The feeling is unbearable. Like the waves of the ocean hitting the shore, relentless, never letting it enjoy a moment’s peace.

But this is what I deserve for putting off a landscape job I could have easily done in the off-season, with zero secondary effects.

My advice to you, folks, is do not be slouches. Don’t do as I did. Take care of things on the spot. In life you need to jump into action. It never pays to overthink. Just wear an apron, long pants, anything really.

Don’t you go into the Bush looking like Captain Kangaroo!