What kind of storm do you think claims the most spiritual casualties?
a. intellectual doubts.
b. moral failures
c. relational conflicts
d. personal crises
e. creeping apathy
(Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1349).
I do not fear intellectual doubt as a spiritual hazard. The much more afflicting hazard is intellectual certitude combined with a sense of exclusivity and superiority.
Moral failures often bring to mind the debilitating and enslaving effects of addictions. A transient moral lapse quickly turns into a no-nonsense, ruthless physical dependency.
Relational conflicts can occur on many levels from two people, to societies, to countries at war. Conflict also courts an addictive character as we acquire euphoric zealousness from a sense of righteous certitude. Personal rectitude is seen to contrast with our adversary’s turpitude.
Personal crises often have a societal source. Roiling plates of massive social pain underlying widespread upheaval can play havoc on personal lives causing aberrational behavior and mental stress.
Creeping apathy is at root a defense mechanism. We quite intentionally and resolutely determine to fiddle while Rome burns—hoping against hope that discord and dysfunction will pass by and exempt our sanctuary of gadgets and toys.
Print Page
