Divine Interjections: 03

an artifact of a forgotten life

I always thought that Christians were not allowed to smoke. I was wrong, of course. The bible says nothing about smoking. But it does say that we should not defile our bodies. After all, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit.

I was a chain smoker. Being in the ad industry didn't help much. At the last count, I was smoking 3 packs a day, everyday. The addiction was so bad that I couldn't function properly without a ciggy in my mouth. There were days when I'd work late in the office after everyone had left and when I ran out of cigarettes, I'd dig the ashtrays for any half-smoked butt just to get my fix. *ahem* I'm not proud but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

When I first chose to become a Christian, I decided that I would smoke anyway. After all, if my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit, surely it's okay to light up some "incense" every now and then. Hehhehh!! So there in my twisted logic, I continued puffing my life away.

But then at 3 packs a day, it does get to you. I'd cough up thick, dark phlegm every morning. I ran out of breath easily. Occasionally I'd even cough up a little blood. And yet, no force on earth could make me quit.

And then I met Mae.

After going out for awhile, she told me that my excessive smoking bothered her. "You can smoke all you want but don't make me a young widow."

Dammit she was right! I could kill myself with all that smoking but she'd be the one to suffer. I had always been pro-choice but I realise right then that the choices we make for ourselves will inadvertently affect someone else - our parents, our wives, our kids.

So just like that I quit, cold turkey. It's been four years since. Clever girl, my wife. Truly God-sent.

Like I said, no force on earth could have made me quit smoking.