Being human means being conscious and responsible. –Viktor Frankl
Recently I spent some time savoring one of my favorite tales written by Leo Tolstoy. Leo continues to serve me at many levels. He reminded me about two things: first, the Devil does exist and second, the Devil exists in me [the Devil, as we know, has many names: evil, darkness, Satan, and one of my favorites, The Accuser].
The Devil is persistent and patient; the Devil never gives up. When I have ‘won’ a victory over him he withdraws and waits patiently until I either call him forth or until he sees an opening – usually an old habit or pattern of mine – and then he returns. The Devil (or evil or darkness or vice) resides within me and although he is powerful he can be defeated (but not eliminated). I know that the Devil cannot ‘win’ unless I allow him to win. I also know that I can defeat the Devil when I open my heart, soul and life to Love (God is Love is no simple statement for me).
At times, like Daniel Webster, I attempt to reason with or bargain with the Devil. He smiles and seems to be willing to do so. And then I end up collaborating with him – I hold onto my anger, or my spite, or my resentment, or my envy or my. . .(fill in the blank). I also know, from experience, that when I decide, when I choose, that I will embrace Love and Light and act rooted in both that the Devil skulks away (I imagine him sitting in a corner pouting).
Tolstoy reminded me that the Devil also lurks within relationships and families. This I believe. I also believe that the Devil lurks within all organized groups of two or more folk – governments, businesses, educational institutions, and houses of worship of all faith-traditions. These institutions project their own darkness or vices or evil into and onto their worlds and in doing so they actually enhance the Devil’s power and impact upon all of us. These groups are tempted by self-righteousness, prejudice, righteous violence (physical, intellectual, emotional and yes, spiritual). In a move that is truly ironic, when the Devil manifests himself through these groups this manifestation is rooted in a belief that ‘the other’ is a demon. They are blinded by the demon that resides within (the log in their own eye).
I am imperfect, so are you, so are our relationships. I then conclude that it is an illusion for any group – especially any society – to believe that it can be without evil (or vice or the Devil) is a tap root that enables us to rain (and reign) great destruction in our world. The belief that we can build a perfect world – if we can destroy those evil people who block our noble efforts – is what lay behind Hitler, Stalin and our own collective self-righteousness.
I-You-We are capable of bringing great light into our lives and into our world. We also have to accept that the Devil does reside within and that we are just as capable of bringing great darkness (evil or vice) into our world. Rather than look out at ‘them’ we must have the courage and faith and trust to look within first. We are capable of opening our hearts, souls and lives to Love and this must also begin from within. A wise man once said that evil occurs one individual and one act at a time; so does Love.
What will I choose today? Will I choose Love? Check back with me later on and I will let you know.
This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him or boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth… –Jer.9:23-24
Searcher-Seeker 