TSL #3 - Daily Pinpicks

In TSL #3, Screwtape encourages Wormwood to manipulate the patient so his behavior does not reflect an increasing standard of faith. In other words, he wants the believer's actions to be disconnected from what he believes, especially toward those with whom he is closest. In this case, it is the patient's mother.

Screwtape's strategy is simple. He wants to create tension between mother and son (or in our case insert any appropriate family member) and "build up ... in that house a good settled habit of mutual annoyance; daily pinpricks."

Satan's methods for creating these "daily pinpricks" are also straightfoward and most certainly devilish.

First, he wants us to think so spiritually that we fail to see our true condition and need for change. As Lewis describes it, this is "the horrow and neglect of the obvious." This is where we become so engrossed in our "spiritual" journey that we fail to see how rude we are to those at work or the degree of our impatience with our children. We think we are suppose to figure out God's will for the next three decades when all our son wants is help figuring out his Algebra homework.

Next, Screwtape wants our prayer life to be so spiritual that we pray for souls but fail to see or meet the basic needs around us. This can happen when we focus on the "inconvenient or irritating" sins of others. Who wants to help someone who is constantly crawling under our skin? Besides, isn't it better to pray that they get better? Another danger is replacing our friends or family members (or church mates - see TSL #2) with imaginary persons. The gulf between the real person and "who they are suppose to be" will often paralyze our prayers, if not petrify them all together.

Another strategy is to constantly remind us of "the tones of voice and expressions of face which are unendurably irritating" to us. This might be the defensiveness in their question or the condescending squint in their eyes. Of course, we never have similar looks or tones. We see life through a window, but never a mirror.

Finally, Screwtapes instructs Wormwood to create a double standard in the mind of his patient. This occurs when we believe our words are never accepted on face value while every word from those around us is laced with offensive if not malicious intentions. An innocent statement is perceived as the most vile attack. Verbal quarrels are never resolved, only justified in each other's minds.

This letter is convicting to the core of daily living.

Too often I let my "spirituality" distract me from the reality of loving those in my life in selfless, practical ways. I forget to view others in Christ as children of God, made in his image, and destined for glory. Instead, I let the daily "pinpricks" of life affect my thoughts, prayers and actions.