Wednesday 22 July - Inner demons

DAILY BYTE

As we continue our reflection on Mark 5:1-20, we read these words once again, “…a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs to meet him” (Mark 5:2).

Today, I’d like us to imagine that this man with an unclean spirit is a description, in a symbolic way, of some part of ourselves. Over the next few days I’d like us to examine him more closely to consider how his situation might mirror our own.

The first thing we learn about him is that he had an unclean spirit, or as some translations put it, an evil spirit. Later in the story this unclean spirit is referred to in the plural as demons, and the man is clearly described as being demon-possessed.

At this point in the story there are two dangers that we can fall into. The one is to dismiss the language of demons and demon-possession as outdated, primitive and superstitious, having little relevance for our modern-day experience. Some would even go further and say that this kind of language is both unhelpful and cruel as we seek to understand the complexities of mental illness and how to respond to it with compassion.

The opposite danger is to limit this language to the literal realm of the demonic – which then persuades us that this story cannot possibly be about us. Both of these dangers keep us from recognizing the truth in this story for our own lives.

And the truth is this: There are destructive forces at work in all of our lives that are essentially spiritual in nature. Exactly where they come from or how they arise within us is not readily understood, if at all. There are certainly genetic, psychological, cognitive and environmental factors that contribute to the shaping of these forces within us. But none of these factors on its own, or even all of them together, can fully account for the reality of those forces that manifest in people’s lives in varying degrees of destructiveness.

Whatever language may be used to describe this reality, whether it be the theological language of ‘demon-possession’, or the psychological language of ‘the disintegration of the Self’, it points to an alarmingly common condition that diminishes many people’s personhood and sense of humanness.

As you think about your life, can you identify any destructive forces or impulses that may be at work within you, diminishing your personhood and causing you to live a lesser life? Tomorrow we will reflect on this further and will seek to identify some of the ‘demons’ that may be lurking within us. But for now, draw comfort from the fact that Jesus is not intimidated by the wild destructive forces that rage within us, no matter how intimidating they may appear. For Jesus boldly steps forward with authority, compassion and liberating grace for the purpose of our healing and restoration to full humanity.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord, it’s true. There are destructive forces and impulses within me that threaten to wreck my life. I don’t know where these things come from, but they represent a vicious power that I cannot contain. Help me to better understand the part that I play in allowing these forces a free reign in my life. Help me to co-operate with you as you come in all your love, compassion and great strength to deal decisively with these inner demons that can be so terrifying. Amen.