We all have free will. We can choose to be nice or peaceful or evil or wise or truculent. We may not always be aware of our choices, but they exist. Each moment in our lives is a choice immediately followed by another. That makes our existence difficult at times, but so rewarding at others. With free will comes temptation and indulgence. With free will comes consequence. With consequence comes punishment and reward. Reward leads to repeating the behavior with the hope of more reward. Many of us also forget that extinction works almost as powerfully as reward. We want to avoid the negative consequences for our behaviors (maybe thoughts and feelings since we do not have a firm grasp on this).
We confuse temptations offered with reward. We convince ourselves that we somehow deserve that which is placed before us. Status, money, power, lust, fame are but a few. That is our failing. We falsely assume that we can repeat the rewards. Often we may, but what happens when we do find that single honest (wo)man? Are we willing to risk it all? It seems that too many of uss are. Do I want to tempt fate?
Somewhere in the midst of all this comes justice and righteousness. The signals coming in are deterrents to clarity. Evil seeks to derail us all and deprive us of what we might have. Gluttony, murder, lust. Some of those deadly sins. Vanity according to Dustin Hoffman. We are repeatedly sought out for our weaknesses rather than our strengths. Humility is the key. Don't rest on your laurels. One right choice does not a saint make.
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