Note: On Fridays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
We’ve all conquered evil at one point or another. Perhaps we ended a human relationship that had us headed down the road to perdition. Or maybe it was stepping away from a behavior of our own, such as cruelty or indifference, that hurt others. Or maybe it was a means such as substance abuse that was destroying our body or soul.
In the early days of victory, we stay on our guard. We stay away from the people or things that got us in trouble. We focus on the new relationships or behaviors that helped us change. Then, after a while, we let down our guard. We stop being as vigilant about protecting the “home improvements” we’ve made, and as a result of overconfidence and perhaps a touch of pride, we provide fertile ground for the unclean spirit and its wicked friends Luke 11 speaks of right back into that clean house.
Recent research indicates that we may all have a finite supply of willpower. Avoidance helps, as does negative reinforcement. The idea of having to contribute $50 to a cause you find odious may work. As Christians, we also look beyond ourselves for help. We ask for the Lord’s assistance, for we know that all the other cleaning products in the world can’t fight evil the way He can.
Staying in the embrace of Christian community can make a big difference. Having people pray for us, help keep us accountable, and provide the loving support that encourages us to make the right choices and stay close to the Sacraments, is essential to keeping us grounded in Truth and Goodness.