This story from C.S.Lewis’ The Great Divorce is one of my favorites:

A mighty angel approached the man and asked, “Would you like me to make the lizard quiet?”

“Of course I would,” said the Ghost.

“Then I will kill him,” said the Angel, taking a step forward.

“Oh—ah—look out! You’re burning me. Keep away,” said the Ghost, retreating.

“Don’t you want him killed?”

“You didn’t say anything about killing him at first. I hardly meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that.”

“It’s the only way,” said the Angel …. “Shall I kill it?”

On Sunday after one of my classes, a student came up to me with a question.  She had been told by a Christian counselor that masturbation was not a sin. She’d heard teaching on sex within the Church, but she’d never heard anyone address that specific issue.  She just wanted to know if her counselor was right.

That makes my heart feel tense. I made her a commitment right then and there that I would write a blog post on the topic this week.  (A commitment I’m regretting right now, because I’m already embarrassed that I wrote the word ‘masturbation.’)