Archive - October 24, 2006

Seven Sins of the Spiritual Life (Part 1)

October 24, 2006 in Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Life with 2 Comments

Dark Night of the Soul is a classic piece written by John of the Cross.  During the 16th century, John was known for his leadership abilities as well as his rigorous lifestyle.  He was named "John of the Cross" due to the suffering he endured in his life as well as his commitment to Christ.  The following addresses the first of the seven sins of the spiritual life.

Beginners in the spiritual life are apt to become very diligent in their exercises.  The great danger for them is to become satisfied with their religious works and with themselves  It is easy for them to develop a kind of secret pride, which is the first of the seven capital sins.

 

Such persons become too spiritual.  They like to speak of "spiritual things" all the time.  They would prefer to teach rather than to be taught.  They condemn others who are not as spiritual as they are.  They are like the Pharisee who boasted in himself and despised the publican who was not as spiritual as he.

 

The devil will often inflame their fervor so that their pride will grow even greater.  The devil knows that all of their works and virtues will become valueless and, if unchecked, will become vices.  For they begin to do these spiritual exercises to be esteemed by others.  They want others to realize how spiritual they are.  They will begin to fear confession to another for it would ruin their image.  So they soften their sins when they make confession in order to make them appear less imperfect….

(cited in Devotional Classics, ed. Richard Foster, p. 34.)

 

“I’m Going to Quit”

October 24, 2006 in Encouragement, Stress with 6 Comments

felt_tip.jpgThat is exactly what I said when I was a junior at The University of North Texas.

 

"I’m going to quit." 

 

I was tired of school.  I was working late nights at United Parcel Service and then getting up in time for 8:00 classes each morning.  My grades were not good.  So I decided I was going to quit college.  I thought about some people I knew who were not college graduates.  They seemed to be doing well.  I rationalized as I thought about others who had graduated from college and had difficulty getting a job.

 

So, one day I skipped classes and drove to Dallas determined to do something else with my life.  First, I interviewed at a radio announcer school.  Seemed like a great job to me.  Then, the guy who interviewed me told me how difficult it was to break in to a major market like Dallas-Fort Worth.  He told me that it is very, very difficult to ever move beyond a very small radio station.  (I think I had in mind replacing my favorite announcer on the Dallas station I listened to!)  Hmmm.  "I need to think about this." 

 

Next, I drove to the Dallas Police Department in downtown Dallas.  I told the man at the desk that I wanted to apply to be a police officer.  He led me to a small office and said that a sergeant would be with me in a few minutes.   I filled out a preliminary application.  Then, the sergeant walked in.  He was African-American, late 50s, much gray hair, and was smoking a pipe.  He asked me about school.  I told him that I was a junior at North Texas and that I was quitting.   He looked at me in this fatherly way and said, "Son, why don’t you just finish school.  Then if you are still interested, come back and see me."

 

That is what I did.  And, I am so glad I did. 

 

I am so grateful for a very wise police sergeant.  Looking back, I wish I had asked others for their advice or counsel.  I didn’t.  In fact, that never even occurred to me.  I was very stubborn and really didn’t consider that others might know more about this than me.  I didn’t realize until later that the value of a college education goes way beyond the way I was thinking.  I was floundering and without any direction.

 

Through the years, I’ve tried to handle my uncertainties, my frustrations, and my need for direction in a much different manner.  I have sought the counsel of people who have been more than willing to help me think through my past, present, and future.  I have found that many people are more than willing to help, if I will just ask.

 

To this day, there are times when I just don’t know what to do.  That is life.  What I am trying to avoid, however, is compounding my problems by making rash or unnecessarily quick decisions.  Far better to spend time in prayer, seeking God in all of this.  Far better to seek the counsel of some who might be farther down the road in this area.  Far better to think through the situation and then trust the Lord.  In many ways, I am still learning.  But hopefully, I am coming at these frustrations better than I did at one time.