the stories of these two very different men has affected me profoundly…
I once read the true story of a duke named Raynald
III, who lived during the fourteenth century. His sad life
illustrates how giving in to our lustful desires–the very thing we
often equate with freedom–actually robs us of freedom and true joy.
Raynald III had lived a life of indulgence and was
extremely overweight. In fact, he was commonly called by his
Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat.”
After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother,
Edward, led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured
Raynald but did not kill him. Instead he built a room around him
in the Nieuwkerk Castle and promised him he could regain his freedom as
soon as he was able to leave the room.
This wouldn’t have been very difficult for most
people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal
size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s
size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But
Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent him a variety of
delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way to freedom, Raynald
grew fatter. He stayed in the room for ten years, till his
brother died in battle. But by then his health was so ruined that
he died within a year–a prisoner of his own appetite.
Not Even a Hint, p. 45
contrast that with this story about the son of King Louis XVI of France:
King Louis had been taken from his throne and
imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who
dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son
was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would
never the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.
They took him to a community far away, and there
they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could
offer. They exposed him to foods the richness of which would
quickly make him a slave to appetite. They used vile language
around him constantly. They exposed him to lewd and lusting
women. They exposed him to dishonor and distrust. He was
surrounded twenty-four hours a day by everything that could drag the
soul of a man as low as one could slip. For over six months he
had this treatment–but not once did the young lad buckle under
pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned
him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things–why had he
not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his
lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, “I
cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king.”
The 7 Habits
of Highly Effective Teens, p. 15
what made these two so different? how does one man understand who
he is and what he was made for while another does not? and how
does one man stand firm while another falls prey to his own sinful
desires?
most importantly, which one am i?
PennyDaisy 
That’s something to make you think.
Hey sara! I like your stories…my parents actually gave me and all of us “older” siblings that book by Joshua Harris “Not Even A Hint” for Christmas…we wondered though if it WAS a hint. 😉 It’s a wonderful book, though, at least what I’ve read so far.I know- it’s a bummer that you can’t see that picture of my family very well. It’s a great picture. Maybe I’ll put it on one of my posts to give people a better chance to see my beautiful family up close. ;)I hope your day is wonderful. I think we’re planning on resuming AfterLife next Sunday- we should ask Jonathan. love ya, girl.
You know, apparently I gave your scenario a little subconcious processing time, because something else popped into my head. It would seem to me that the effective difference between the two individuals is that one had a clear foreknowledge of his destiny, while the other had little other than superfluous purpose. Would that we all so clearly knew the path around the next corner.