My Brothers Keeper

Last week, my housemate Brian started his new schedule, which included him going to bed earlier. I felt resentful, because I wanted to hang out with him, and considered not going to Mass the next day. Why would I do that? Because, you know, it makes sense to punish Jesus and my soul because my best friend is doing something to better himself. These are the selfish thoughts of my often selfish mind. Despite my desire I knew it may cause him anxiety and sadness, so I got up and went.

Last night he wanted to stay up past his self-imposed bedtime. Despite my discomfort, I told him I knew that was a bad idea because at the beginning of living a rule or schedule, you have to stick with the commitment strictly, or there will be excuse after excuse not to keep it. It will have no impact. It will become a suggestion rather than a rule.

So he begrudgingly went to bed. I stayed up with my weekly Sunday night hard cider. I fell asleep on the couch, like an old liteweight drunk, and woke to the can still having a quarter of the drink left. I wanted to drink the rest but instead tried something selfless. I thought of Brian instead of myself and how if he woke to go to the bathroom and all the lights were off it may make it easier for him to keep his commitments. So I threw it out and went to bed.

This morning, I woke up but wanted to stay in bed and attend the noon Mass. Again, I thought of Brain and our commitment to live as brothers so I got up and went.

We are each other’s keeper.

Human-Written, AI Spell-Checked 3/29/21 AD

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