Looks Like a Bad Habit

I suppose all men have a vice of sorts. I reckon mine to be the smooth warm smoke of a stubby bold cigar. I am not quite sure what initial exposure gave me the inkling that a cigar was in some ways desirable. I have never had a desire to drink and my lips have still never touched beer, liquor, or wine. Conceited and self-righteous seemed to be the words ascribed to me by others when declining drinks through my college years. Those who know me will understand that I have no problem with others drinking, but for myself it never seemed fitting. While cigar smoke may cloud the eyes, it does not cloud the mind or inhibit one's better judgment.

While I struggled to bond with others over strong drink, I made up for it with laughs, stories, and mutual joy found through a puff of cigar smoke. Many times those puffs sifted through the oak and cedar branches which concealed our location while waiting for quacking birds from above. The duck blind is a great place for cigar smoking. Many times, that was all there was to do in the blind. Talk and smoke cigars. Tobacco use is common among many hunters and within my own hunting circle you can expect to find chews, dips, and the smoking kind. The latter being my preference.

A good cigar, in my opinion, is short and stocky, bold in flavor, and slow burning. I do not claim to be a connoisseur of any kind (let alone cigars) and I am sure that my limited vocabulary in this space would be quickly found out by someone more versed than I. Either way, I know what I like.

I mentioned earlier that all men have a vice of sorts and mine to be a cigar. I don’t know if that is an appropriate application of my occasional enjoyment of a good smoke though. I do not believe or see anything inherently sinful in the smoking of a cigar. No more than I do the occasional drink from those whose conscience and stability in their standing with Christ allows it. Moderation and acting from faith is what seems most important in this argument (I draw this conclusion from Romans 14:22-23 and verses like Ephesians 5:18) . Nevertheless, I understand not everyone will agree on this matter. My own grandmother would shake her head in disapproval at the sight of a cigar in the corner of my mouth. She would disappointedly say, “Looks like a bad habit to me!”

Bad habit or not, I can’t deny the somewhat spiritual effects a cigar plays within the soul of man. Smoke and clarity might seemingly be antonyms, but through some mystery of the Lord can be used to create cohesive beauty in the mind. Cigars often plant you in one physical location. I can recall, on several occasions, postponing a departure until the smoke was through. Sitting in one place for an extended period can work wonders in the heart. It allows time to process the day and dream of the next. For me, it settles my mind into a state of pondering the Lord and thinking more of Him. How could that be dishonoring to His name?

Spiritual curiosity begins to burn, as does the cigar, once a match is struck and touched to the leaf. I have asked and attempted to answer what I believe to be God glorifying questions while sitting with other men enjoying a cigar. Whether in a duck blind, at deer camp, on the water, or around a fire I think there is something to be admired about the bond formed with friends through this activity.

If Jesus drank wine, do you think he would smoke a cigar with me? My denominational upbringing cringes slightly at that question, but I think it is still valid and in no way demeans my Lord. He has saved me from much worse than the occasional smoke and probably has more to say regarding my affinity for fried chicken than He does with my tendency towards infrequent tobacco use.

I have not smoked a cigar in a long time. Perhaps it is time to find my cutter and matches. Even at the height of my cigar use, I never smoked more than two or three in a given month. That only lasted for a short season anyways. Now, I might smoke two or three a year, but I always look forward to it. I just need the company of more godly men who enjoy the depth and breadth of smoke fueled conversation.

Thank you Lord for the faith you grant, the unchanging standing that we have in Christ, and the wonderment You inspire through a good bold cigar.