A Letter from a Devil's Apprentice

 

The Wormwood Letters: A Crash Course in Screwtapery

My dear Snagheel,

It is my deliciously nefarious privilege to offer you the following summary of the strategies that have been used most effectively by your fellow tempters in this present age, two thousand years since our Enemy walked the earth in human form. I learned many of these basic principles from Screwtape, my ingenious tutor, but I have updated and added to them for your benefit. When my time-consuming current assignment in Philadelphia has ended, I will endeavor to compose for you a more complete handbook of letters, to assist you in your significant, if not happy, business.

To begin with a time-honored method: Prompt your human subjects to suppose that we do not exist. Build upon the helpful groundwork laid by the scientific empiricism of the modern age, and capitalize on the tendencies of their own hearts to think that nothing exists but what they can see, touch, or experience emotionally.

If they do believe we are real, trick them into thinking we are grotesque, slobbering monsters, rather than sly and subtle tempters. If they should discover that our master appears as an angel of light, for instance, they may become far too skeptical and discerning for their own good.

Entice them to forget that we are at war with the Enemy and with their own souls. Our most powerful weapons in this regard are the various entertainment media, of course. If you can get them to absorb large amounts of the television, movies, music, and netfare we inspire, you will most likely succeed on that count alone. And you will most certainly be successful if you can get them to do this mindlessly, without recognizing the subtle and not-so-subtle temptations and lies imbedded in their "fun."

If they do recognize the reality of spiritual warfare, try to divert them into perverse variations and additions to what the Enemy has enjoined upon them in his loathsome Book. Encourage them to think they should talk to us, "bind" us, "cast us out," or resort to ritualistic prayer formulas. You will find, if given the enviable opportunity, that there are few enjoyments greater than willfully suspending your influence on a human subject when a well-meaning friend "binds you" or "casts you out." This amusing frolic leaves the friend thinking he has power over us, while the subject has been "delivered" by some other means than his own repentance.

Remember the power of "little sins" like pride, gossip, laziness, and judgmentalism. As Screwtape so elegantly instructed me, time and again, the usefulness of these lies in the fact that a subject's life can be utterly filled with them, while he continues to be esteemed by others and think of himself as a godly man.

If the hairless apes do become agitated at their own sins, quickly offer them alternate explanations for why they have done wrong. Do not allow them to accept personal responsibility for their crimes against the Enemy, because from there they may stagger closer to his cross (which is the last place we want them to go). Toward this end, you can supply them with numerous excuses, drawn from the infinite well of modern psychological theory.

If those excuses fail for some reason, and they look toward religion for absolution and forgiveness, encourage them in this pursuit. But, as I already said and will say a thousand more times, keep them away from the cross at all costs. Non-Christian religions are ideal, most forms of Christianity are acceptable, and even evangelical Christianity will pose no problem as long as they think the Enemy is saving and forgiving them because of something that they do, and not because of his free, undeserved grace. We have made great inroads into the once formidable evangelical church by suggesting that making a "decision" or saying a prayer somehow moves the Enemy to bestow his grace. We have so successfully obscured the meaning of the word faith that even many of his captains are misusing it. I shall write more of this glorious victory in the future, but for now it suffices to say that any way of "salvation" that bypasses the cross, even slightly, is highly desirable. Like the pilgrim in that infamous and repulsive old book by John Bunyan, your subjects will most surely lose their burdens of sin and guilt if they are allowed to hear and understand what Jesus was doing on that most despised of all days. We have lost far too many promising subjects when the Spirit of the Enemy has made use of such learning, turning them away from all self-reliance and turning their hearts toward him in trust and love.

Finally, Snagheel, permit me to summarize my summary by saying that your goal should be to turn their attention away from the person of Jesus Christ, by any means available. Tempt them to focus on themselves and the world around them, or even on doctrines about Christ, benevolence in his name, or other things that are not bad in themselves. Though they might be "good" things, they fortunately can become "bad" when they distract from the one at his right hand. When such distractions fail, and the humans take the time to sit at their Savior's feet, he invariably demonstrates a frustrating ability to win their hearts completely. He becomes so awe-inspiring and beautiful to them that they willfully and cheerfully become his servants forever. Then for us, all hope is lost.

Affectionately yours,

Your uncle WORMWOOD

Credits/Source: Dave Swavely

"Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar. Not everything that Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle. "

C.S. Lewis - The Screwtape Letters

Not enough quotes?

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. - C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory)

"Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of being shaken." - Rabbi Abraham Heschel 

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33 (NIV) 

Mundus vult decepi, ergo decipiatur - the world wishes to be deceived, and therefore is deceived




The above quotes are sentiments I share.

**

 I just remembered what the guy at the forum said, that when a nobel prize-winning behavioral psychologist came to Singapore to assess its leaders on an invitation, the psychologist commented that they were probably the most brilliant group of people he was amongst. However they also had one of the lowest compassion scores. 

Lol. This, I think, is a very good description of many 'intelligent' people.

But again, I shouldn't alienate or be intimidated by them, as I tend to do. They're people too. 
I think Australia taught me that.
It reminds me of how a friend frankly told me she thought of me as 'an academic person' and implied that I therefore have little emotion. 
Hahaha. I think that I just don't show them in most situations, although I really want to show it, it is usually not drawn out, or possibly inappropriate. More often the former. 

I fear becoming a robot. I'm already called "The Machine". Sadly. But I think I may be as impersonal as impersonal can be, and therefore in return, I have impersonal friends. I want to talk about things beyond academics with some friends I'm relatively comfortable with, but they have no care for these concerns. Sigh. And with friends who only care about the most random things, I tend to spend too little time with them, for various reasons?. Sigh. 

I miss serving in OCF. I miss some of my closest friends there.
When I could share some of my deepest thoughts and feelings. 
And listen to theirs. And encourage them and be encouraged.
It usually is related to God, directly and indirectly. 
But now, who can I confide in? Who can I trust?

Playing the organ, reminds me of my humanity. 
The introductions, the journey, the conflict, the turn, and the close of music.
Like going through an entire movie in five minutes.
Like dancing on the keyboard with the music.
Whereby you're definitely on time with the tune, as you play the notes.
Which gives the music an extra kick and influence.

How I miss the organ. 
And some of the things of the past.
And yet, I know I will not be satisfied even if I relived the past.  


It seems like I need to change things in my life. 
I need to grow.
Life as it is, is going to be terrifyingly miserable.


I want change.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Quotes and an aimless monologue

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

“We think sometimes we're only drawn to the good, but we're actually drawn to the authentic. We like people who are real more than those who hide their true selves under layers of artificial niceties”
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Mysteries of Life and Living 


Some selected quotes.

I like the first one a lot.
A nice perspective for looking at difficulties, to have hope, even when there seems to be no purpose to it.

Some say life's purpose is to be happy. Some say it's success. These two notions are very vague, as it really depends on how one defines what makes you happy and what is success. Here I'll look at three common perspectives on the main party to be concerned with.

When one sees life's purpose as for oneself, it sometimes seem meaningless, disappointing, and unfair.
When one sees life's purpose as relationships and people, it is relatively meaningful, but can be disappointing, as all will die, and it becomes meaningless again.
When one sees life's purpose as relationship with a God, who is forever, it can feel confusing and like, for real? But I take a serious look here, because it is the only end goal that is meaningful, the only one that makes the journey worth it, the only one that gives hope that life is fair, only one that lasts.

Many say that we don't know God, and can never know God. True, we'll never really know until we meet God face to face, but that doesn't mean He wouldn't let us to begin to know Him now.  Sure, there are many religions to confound us (the Devil is quite successful), and perhaps the intention is similar across religions, but I think if we earnestly seek the truth, we will find the God beyond the religions, who in my opinion, based on evidence, has revealed Himself through Jesus.

This is what Paul, an apostle, said to the Greeks who had many gods they made up, .

²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’^[b] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

²⁹ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. ³⁰ In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Source: Acts 17

Nope, I don't have to begin to know God here on earth. And sure I can ignore Him and His judgment till the minute I die, perhaps. 

But I'd be missing out. 

Just as people want to begin their relationship with their ((insert "soul mate" or best friends, or family, or whoever)) ASAP, to avoid missing out on sharing good and bad times together, on listening to what each thinks of anything in the world,

so it is with God.

Missing out on the joy of the intimacy with God from an earlier time is like part of the God's judgment. 

But I find this earnest search so difficult to endeavour.

It takes up so much will-power. 

For I know that God calls me to change soo much!

I give up. and go my own way, into "default mode" all the time. 

And so I hate life now. I want to live the moment. But I can't instruct myself.

And I know it is partly my indifference to change.

I should know better. Theoretically I do, I suppose.

But my real, emotional self will not surface. It doesn't force me to move. Why so stubborn?

Why? I have a guess, and I dare not admit the answer.

Sigh. I need help, I know the source, and that it will come, but I don't know how that help will come, or what form it would take, or when it will arrive.

Till then,

not-very-patiently waiting. 

Humility means

"So, what is humility, really? Humility is not a self-hating, insecure abasement of oneself, but a healthy understanding of your weakness rooted in a healthy understanding of God’s strength. Humility actually takes confidence—confidence to believe you are worth loving even when you are flawed, and courage to believe that God can change even the most stubborn personality traits."

People Skills

In my philosophy class, a book related to dealing with people was once mentioned in passing. I remember I felt that this book was portrayed as fairly fluffy, unlike how Socrates was so smart and wise (well, not really) with his leading questions.

 

I also felt that, like Toastmasters, it was a tool, for influencing people to think the way you want them to. The question is, why would you want to influence them in the first place? If it was for one's own selfish benefit, then I wasn't interested. A manipulative tool? Meh.

 

However, over the years, I discovered (and continue to discover in an experiential way) God's loving purpose for humanity, that is to love God, and to love one another. Indeed, according to the scriptures and to a small extent, my own journey, we were made for His purpose, and will find our deepest satisfaction in our spiritual walk in God. Given this discovery, I found this desire to share this good stuff, to point people in this direction as well.

 

Unfortunately, like many people with the best of intentions, I often hit a sometimes painful brick wall. People problems plague and hinder many well-intentioned efforts. This is why the workplace often speak of people skills as something highly prized. This skill is often well-practiced by the best business amd political leaders, who often teach this skill to their own children, more often informally and indirectly. This skill is also often picked up through group activities - whether sports, or clubs, or just a group of friends.

 

Indeed, as I observed the way some of my friends interacted, I noticed how some of us who are well-grounded and well-intentioned found ourselves lacking in some ways to reach out to others. While others, who may not be as intentional, are much more effective in achieving the same goal. Some call it charisma, I call it people skills. I guess you can call it leadership skills as well, as some of the things mentioned here, can be observed in a mentor who indirectly motivated me to do something, to a limited extent.

 

These subconscious thoughts led me to pick up this book in a random bookstore (while I got a haircut haha). Here's the summary of it, which I googled, because I don't think I have the time to read it this semester. I might eventually read it in the end. Hm. You can google the book title for a free pdf online. :)

 

PRINCIPLES FROM "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE."
by Dale Carnegie

BECOME A FRIENDLIER PERSON

1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
4. Become genuinely interested in other people. 
5. Smile.
6. Remember that a person's name is to that person the most important sound in any language.
7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
8. Talk in terms of the other person's interest.
9. Make the other person feel important - and do so sincerely.
10. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.

 

WIN PEOPLE TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING

1. Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're wrong." 
2. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
3. Begin in a friendly way.
4. Get the other person saying, "Yes, yes" immediately.
5. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
6. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
7. Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view. 
8. Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
9. Appeal to the nobler motives.
10. Dramatize your ideas.

BE A LEADER

1. Throw down a challenge.
2. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
3. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
4. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
5. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
6. Let the other person save face.
7. Praise the slightest and every improvement. Be "lavish in your praise."
8. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
9. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
10. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

Source: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/l/luenemannu/pdf/CommunicationPrinciples.pdf


I think it can be summarized as caring for people first, before expecting people to care for what you think. Or Stephen Covey's seek first to understand, and then to be understood. As I read the list of instructions, I think wah, easy to say la. But why do these things? There's also a lot of "be genuine", "sincerely", "honestly", etc. The idea is to be authentic, and to respect people for their own way of doing things first. Indeed, it requires a great deal of humility, to think of others as better than ourselves. It's a no wonder that there's the saying that the first will last and the last will be first. Servant leadership.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
Philippians 2:3

I think the difficult part, is putting these principles into practice. I hope to, as pa always said in the past, APPLY. Do it, or all your "education" and books are wasted.
Do it, when the situation comes up!

What I remembered while recollecting my old self

Given the dreariness of these days,
given the very little visible importance of micro/macro economic theory to future applications,
given the very little usefulness of becoming more knowledgeable regarding the stockmarket,
given the disappearance of some close friends,
or perhaps the increased awareness regarding the loosening of ties,
given the desire to hope that the future, not just the infinite future, but also the immediate future had something to look forward to,
I decided to review what changed about myself in the last few years.

Quite a bit actually. Something that cannot be shared in just a few paragraphs on a public blog.

At the same time, I remembered that I once had a xanga! And I found it! And I found a protected old post detailing my memories surrounding his death. It was encouraging and refreshing, listening to the me of 7 years ago (Wah so much time has passed! A baby born 7 years ago would be in Primary 1 now) And at the same time I laugh at my old silly, academically ambitious, selfish self. And at the same time miss some of the me of the past.

I'm glad I blogged in the past.

I think I'll write somewhere about hopes for the future when I'm free.
Perhaps detailing it will be good, it's a lot easier to focus and to strive, when I can keep my eye on the goal. Hopefully it will prevent myself from becoming too selfish with my life and instead use it wisely.
I'd hate to say I wasted life at the end of the my life!



P.S. My xanga is an unsearchable blog. I have not decided whether or not to make it public. I might share snippets of memories if you ask.