About a loose brick in the dam of our lives

Many years ago now, a priest gave me an analogy of how the smallest misdemeanour can gradually lead on to more and more serious errors.

Imagine a really strong dam; then imagine that someone comes along and dislodges just one brick. The water will begin to seep into the mortar and this will slowly start to crumble.

How much easier will it be then to dislodge the next brick and the next and so on! Eventually, the dam will be breached and the flood gates will be opened.

Some years ago, I remember hearing a report about a postal worker who was in debt due to a gambling habit. He began to open mail when he thought there was money inside.

The first time was probably quite scary but before long, it became a habit. Suspicions were aroused and when investigated, he was found to have hundreds of opened letters in his house and was imprisoned.

How easy it is to see this process at work. Once we step over the bounds of our own values, maybe a loss of self-respect begins to creep in and the acknowledgement of wrongdoing becomes numbed.

Thank God that there is always the possibility of redemption. For some people, this seems to come only when a crisis or catastrophe occurs.

For others, something or someone may bring into their lives an awareness of the blind alley along which they are heading.

For some, maybe this will only come in the next life - but we can always rely on the infinite mercy and justice of God to give us the opportunity to make amends and to put things right.

Personally, I believe that completely.