Acedia and the Noonday Demon

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Perhaps we could also state the road to hell is paved with a slow descent into apathy, continually choosing the path of least resistance.  

The early monks were very concerned with this problem.  They sometimes referred to it as acedia or the noonday demon.  Both are related.  The noonday demon (I'm not picturing a literal demon here) comes and tries to knock us off course when the journey seems long.  The noonday demon makes us think that perhaps it isn't worth it:  the struggle, the toil, trying to love, trying to pray--it's all a waste of time.  

If we indulge those thoughts we might end up in a state of lethargy; we become infected with acedia.  We become apathetic creatures no longer capable of hope or of anger.  We become reluctant lovers.  Pain and suffer no longer move us.  Not even God and his great love is capable of motivating the slothful.  The status quo becomes our watchword and song.  No commitment is worthy of our lives other than the commitment to be committed to nothing so that we can keep our options open.  Many jealously guard the freedom to be committed to absolutely nothing; they don't want anyone to disturb their comfort.  A chaotic life without meaning or purpose is often the result; for without organizing our lives around something solid we let everyone else tell us how to live.  

To get out of this mess, we must continually respond to the Christ who is knocking on the door of our hearts (Revelation 3).  As he continued to pursue the lukewarm Laodiceans, so he continues to pursue us.  If only--if only!-- we will open the door of our hearts through prayer, study, and fellowship.  

Peace.