Preparing to Die

Today's letter talks about thinking solely of ourselves and of our condition, and forgetting to seriously and rationally consider that we might die. The tempter writes, "Everyday they drive past graveyards and see ads for undertakers, and yet they still persuade themselves that the skull and crossbones don't apply to them. As long as you can keep your patient in a state of denial about death you can lead him wherever you like."

I think it's so easy, in our society, to become so caught up in temporal matters and completely forget to make preparations for the eternal things. The secular society is extremely enticing, offering happiness in things like power and money and sex and honor. So enticing that I think most people become distracted by it. They are so caught up in living the best life that they forget to prepare to die. Today's letter addresses just that. When one believes he is immortal, the devil can drive him anywhere. But when one accepts death as a reality, God will prevail.

I Want This Keychain

The Gargoyle Code

In the mail today, I received a book that I am very excited to read. The Gargoyle Code by Fr. Dwight Longenecker is a book in the tradition of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. From the back of the book:

Master Tempter Slubgrip writes daily to trainee devil Dogwart, advising him on the temptation of a confused young Catholic, while he struggles to control his own 'patient,' an older Catholic man who is facing a serious illness.

Meanwhile Slubgrip has to watch his back, keep control of various under devils who are plotting to take control of his territory and send him to the banqueting house of the Father below.

The Gargoyle Code makes for un-put-downable reading at any time, but it is especially designed as a book to be read during Lent. The letters from the tempters begin on Shrove Tuesday and folow day by day, taking the reader on an entertaining, enlightening and sobering journey toward Easter Day.

I have a bit of catching up to do, but I figured it would be a spiritually edifying experience if on the remaining Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during Lent I write about the particular letter that I read that morning and how it applies to my life. Stay tuned, then. I'll play catch up today and tomorrow, and then write something on Friday.