Vomit Breath

Vomit Breath

"As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11(NIV)

If you've ever seen a dog do this, it's not pretty. It's bad enough they lick their own butt and sniff other dog's backside(how would you like that instead of a friendly handshake or greeting). But, a dog will barf and then many times eat it again.

This is what wise solomon is trying to tell us happens with fools who keep repeating the same mistakes. It makes no sense to keep making the same mistakes repeatedly, but we do it, i do it. We return to eat our vomit.

We keep returning to the abusive & cheating spouse, we keep hanging out with the same friends who bring us down, we keep going back to the same places that get us in trouble. We spend too much time with a person we are emotionally attracted to when we know they or us are married and it will lead to nothing but hurt and trouble for many people. We keep cheating, lying, stealing, deceiving, justifying, making excuses, and then returning.

No matter how big or small the pile of vomit, it's still vomit folks! One bite or ten doesn't change the taste of vomit. It doesn't change the fact that we keep returning to the scene of the crime. Instead of learning from our mistakes, accepting the consequences of our situation, seeking God's guidance, or moving forward, we return. We don't learn, accept, move, or seek, we return to feast.

We simply keep returning, why? I don't know, Sin? Selfish? Unrealistic intentions? Human nature? Confused? Ignorant? Living in the past? Probably all the above and more. I think it differs with each individual. The key is for us to realize we are returning and take steps to stop returning.

They say the defintion of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Going back repeatedly to the same thing or the same place or the same person(s) that is hurting us, destroying us, confusing us, and hindering us is not going to help. We have to start there.

Sometimes we simply need to surrender truly to God and stop running, hiding, or making excuses. Sometimes we need the help of our church family or friends because we are not strong enough on our own, and in more serious cases, we really need to seek out professional help. Whatever the case, join me in striving to stop returning to and eating my own vomit.