The Devil is in the Details

Someone posed the question yesterday, “Do you think the devil is real?”  I have to think about that since I live in abstract concepts but this is what I believe.  Yes; but not necessarily in the way that many see it.  The Bible does tell us that there really is an evil entity and for the sake of simplicity and perhaps storytelling the name is satan or the devil.  But it is real even if we can’t quite identify it.  And we as Catholics reject “satan” as a community in our creed. (“Do you reject satan, all of his works and all of his empty promises?”  “I do.”)  So to articulate exactly what I think of when I give any time to satan or evil is a little difficult and it may be like the weather…I have a healthy respect for it’s ability to harm me.I don’t think that there is someone walking among us, (like an Obama or a Glenn Beck who are always  being called the anti-christ by someone!) as much as there is an influence that draws us farther and farther away from the heart of God.  But it is something, and it is powerful.  I have actually walked into places, (interestingly enough drugs are involved) where I could feel evil.  So, though I am not inclined to think I am passing an evil “person” I do believe that I am in the presence of evil.  Holy cow!  Does that make any sense??  I think anyone who has had the experience can understand it to some extent, or at least I hope!I used to work with recovering drug addicts and alcoholics and for some it was apparent that a battle  was going on inside of them.  It is VERY hard to believe you are loved, lovable and loving when you have been told most of your life that you are quite the opposite.  You can see the hope that starts to shine but isn’t strong enough to sustain.  Evil goes to weakness…evil looks for our vulnerability and exploits it so that we think it is, (or we are), beyond repair. What Love does is the very opposite, Love tells us that everything can be forgiven, can be redeemed and can be overcome.  Further, I believe that we are made in the image
and likeness of God and I am not inclined to trade that with mythology of good and evil.  I find it too hard to manage that part right now.  I rest a lot on our own ability to return to the source of all Life.   Rob Bell suggests, ‘there are a lot of people resisting God right now‘.  Fr. Martin says, “People can be tempted to do certain things against their conscience by the evil spirit, but the evil spirit doesn’t create their conscience.” Do you see the difference and how it applies to what each person is saying?  God is the being..the creator…we are created by the Being and we have the ability to comply or resist.  When we resist, it pushes us away from God when we comply we are drawing closer to God.  Now, compliance (and really, I am not sure that is the word I want to use…maybe acquiescence is better) we are simply walking along the same path as God.  Just as when we resist, we begin walking away. Fleetwood Mac had it right, “You can go your own way…you can call it another lonely day.”  If you listen to the song there can be a good connection!

So, I guess from my experience I would offer that the spirit of evil is real and it is powerful and I believe that it could influence me more were I not protected by “the armor of God.”  But, it also means that the little things I do can push me ever so slightly away, and the bad habits I have can create or feed just the right weakness so that before I know it, I am vulnerable and exploitable.  But, if I keep myself as centered as I can, I can recognize those characteristics that make me weak, or at the very least try.  I can see where the cracks could occur.  I can do what I can to not allow the evil spirit in.But this is all very much my own opinion and my own articulation.  It is such a complex subject and everyone has a different experience.  I am interested in yours!The article that started the discussion:http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/what-the-devil/2011/11/16/gIQATnkIUN_story.html