In the first of CS Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, he makes a number of really important points. One of them, in many respects the most important, is what he says about distraction. Following the life of a young man who doesn’t yet believe, what does the devil do to ensure he doesn’t think too deeply about spiritual truths? Distract him. Fill his mind with the ordinary. After all there is a life to be lived and things to do. Football games to watch. A lawn to mow. Catching up with friends for a coffee. Walking the dog. The list goes on and on. Why waste time thinking about things you can’t see? And besides, you can always come back to it later.

The great problem is, later seldom comes.

That’s because there is always something else to do. Another distraction that has little or no bearing on eternity. There’s nothing wrong with the ordinary, but if it distracts you from facing up to eternity, the devil has you at checkmate.

Pastor Duncan