The ability to abstain is a superpower.

This isn’t the type of abstinence you are thinking about.

I’m talking about the ability to abstain from the little habits that can be become full blow obsessions. I’m not talking about drugs. I’m talking about everyday things.

Smart Phones. Email. Twitter. Facebook. The NFL. Instagram. Netflix bingeing. Reality television.

It’s often not about what our priorities are, but what are priorities aren’t.

Ask anyone what their priorities are and you’ll get the typical list.

Family. Work. Marriage. Faith.

But It’s the non-essential things we often prioritize that get into the way of our real priorities. For all the emphasis on the important things, like family and our marriage, we let things that shouldn’t be priorities get into the way.

This past weekend we held our annual “Turkey Bowl” where a group of us, ages ranging from 7 to 45, played a game of touch football at a local park. As each year passes I lose a step while my kids seem to gain a step (especially my football playing 15-year-old son and his friends). Age is still undefeated after all. As I glance at the smiling faces from the group picture on my phone I get a warm feeling when I think of how the fond memories I’ll have of this year’s game. As we age (I am 44) we maintain little snippets of memorable moments from different times in our lives, many rooted to the holidays. One of the highlights of the Turkey Bowl this year was the seven-year-old son of one of my close friends scoring his first touchdown, something he and his dad will always remember.

Abstinence is a Super Power (Not the Abstinence You're Thinking Of)

The Importance of Tradition