I’m giving myself permission to do a bad job right now. Sometimes when I do that it turns out to be better than when I try to do a good job. I’m sure there’s a lesson in that, but I refuse to learn it. In any case, what I’m about to write is expected to be short, narcissistic, and not …
The Demons That Visit Me: Adventures in Centering Prayer
You forgot to start with three deep breaths. Breathe. In. Out. Yah. Weh. In – You’re probably going to have to poop. I wonder what sound the timer on my watch will make. I’ve never used it before. Probably not as nice as the harp thing on the iPhone. Breathe. In. Out. Yah. Weh. Lisa’s probably going to interrupt you. …
The Gospel According to Buffy
I am a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have watched the entire series, including the Angel spin-off, about six times. I’m watching it again now. Part of that is comfort; I know the show and know that I will enjoy it, so it’s easy to put on when I just want to relax. However, when I want …
Demons of Reason: Pride and Shame
This week we continue our pilgrimage home to the self and to God through the eyes of 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus. The past two weeks, we have discussed demons that attack through the body and the passions. Now we arrive at the reasonable demons: vainglory and vanity, later known together as pride. I say reasonable demons because, according to …
Demons of Resistance: Sadness, Anger, and Acedia
One of my Lenten practices this time is to fast on Mondays. The hunger is not the worst part. Rather, I find myself watching the clock and wondering when dinner is. When I realize that I’m not going to eat dinner, it is devastating, not because I want the food, but because I want to get away from what I’m …
Demons of Desire: Gluttony, Lust, and Avarice
As I’m sure you all remember, dear readers, we are spending Lent with 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus, taking a pilgrimage back to the self and God. Sadly, our journey is thwarted by adversaries, demons that seek to distract us from our task. This past Sunday, we met our first adversary in the story of Jacob wrestling in the night. …
When Demons Attack
I struggle with sin. Not so much the doing of it, though I do my fair share, but the naming of it. I struggle with how to talk about sin or think about sin. Like many of us, I grew up in a church that used guilt and shame to win conversions. And, after the conversion, the guilt and shame …