Being Seventy: Five

Continuing with reflections from the book, Being Seventy:

Page 85: Whittier wrote at eighty, “I do not believe it possible . . . to be sinless.” It would seem that if anyone had led a blameless life, he had. But so did all the saints lament their sins. I think I know what they meant.

After one has passed the stage of committing the grosser sins and even of being tempted by them — temptation having been removed by age or lack of opportunity — then the hidden spiritual sins come flocking: pride, envy, jealousy, anger, all forms of concealed unlovingness, and that sin considered today to be the top one of all, hypocrisy.

I remember Lloyd's saying one time (many years ago) something about the sins involving the genitals get the most attention, but there are so many more that may be worse. 

"Concealed unlovingness." That's what I have got to keep quiet about now.