Last March I wrote about how Daylight Saving Time messes with our sleep / waking schedule so much that it’s not unusual or surprising that we find ourselves grumpier than normal for a few days (or weeks).
One approach, of course, is to simply give in to this anger: at a spouse, child, or co-worker. Another approach is to use it as an opportunity to confess our sins and shortcomings and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to begin to cultivate the virtues in our life.
Throughout the long history of the church, seven grievous (or “deadly”) sins were identified as being particularly serious or pernicious: pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth. How many of these rear their ugly heads the week following the Daylight Saving Time switch?
However, the Church in its wisdom, has “matched” these seven grievous sins with the seven capital virtues: humility, liberality (generosity), chastity, mildness, temperance, happiness and diligence (see also the “fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23).
Our battle with sin is a daily one. Let us all, by God’s grace, fight the dark side of DST with some Spirit-filled TLC.