The devil and distraction

I have a few very close friends, most of whom I would count as extremely faithful people. Although most are Catholic, a few are not. I have great respect for people who come to the fullness of their faith in their tradition and live it genuinely. Long ago I worked with a devout Muslim. I knew if we were driving some distance, he would stop to pray on the side of the road if our travels crossed into one of the five times of prayer each day. His willingness to endure the honks and stares of others (we worked in rural Kentucky) while he prayed was witness to me of his dedication to his faith. I think that is lacking for many people these days.

Religion and faith are things you look to when you're in a difficult place or as a weekly routine...the meaning behind the motivation is missing. It's easy to become distracted. It's easy to worry about the organization of your house, the amount of protein in your diet, or how much toxin is in the plastic cup you use. We spend a lot of our time distracted by articles and TV shows that tell us what we should be doing. How easily we have forgotten the most important things...the truth that is written in our hearts. We know what we should be doing...listening and following to the Spirit who is here to guide us. The Bible and the Saints writings will keep your reading list full and your heart and mind focused on the truth.

Let's start today. Let's not be afraid of. Look at what Pope Francis says...a fragile faith is in great danger...be strong in your faith. Be not afraid (as a former-pope-now-Saint liked to say)! Again, Pope Francis, "Around us there is the presence of evil. The devil is at work. But in a loud voice I say: God is stronger!" What we need to do is acknowledge that the devil is at work all around us...every day. He is there when we choose too many activities over faith or family time, there when we worry more about what other people think of us and less about what God thinks of us, there when we let society seep into our homes with unwelcome agendas...like conveniently placing a news story about a pedophile priest immediately following a story about the pope. Coincidence? Doubtful.

I have two dear friends who have recently gone head-to-head with evil in their lives. I am certain it's because they are on the right path and, frankly, Satan is getting agitated. It seems counter-intuitive but it is true and real...the closer you move to God, the more the Dark One throws stuff in your way to distract you from the truth. If you've read the Screwtape Letters, you know we distract ourselves plenty so the minions are standing around enjoying our destruction by our own hand. If we focus on heaven as our goal and move in that direction, be warned...the trials may come. No matter how difficult it may seem, never forget the pope's good words, "God is stronger!" Amen.