I am working on an essay about how a small group took over the Milwaukee Society of St. Vincent de Paul and how a small group is trying to restore it to its mission. Writing is a focused event, something that takes discipline. Watching a sports event on TV in the background or writing in small periods is not conducive to good writing. Discipline in living is something I always have sought but not as often practiced.

However, there is a lot of benefits to being discipline. Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying “Conscience is the ripe fruit of strictest discipline.” This quote about conscience might not have meant much to me when I was young but now, older and living in an age of great distractions, it makes sense. These days when I hear something interesting or am curious about something I often go to my computer or smart phone to seek out the answer. On my phone I just can say “Hey Siri” and ask a question and my phone will frequently give me an answer back. Siri on the phone is very smart. I asked Siri how smart she was and her answer was “I am smart enough to know not to answer that question.”

All the information, opinions, facts and stories in the world do not make our conscience. Our conscience, I believe, results from when looking deeply into something and seeing its inner meaning or purpose. To do this takes discipline. To get discipline we must practice discipline from what we eat to who we associate with to what we do with our time.

Distractions abound in living our life. Only with discipline can we uncover our conscience.

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