Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭16‬

Below the desperation is often a grim caution that we not become like the sour, soulless people we’ve characterized in the pews.

For a long time, we can tread water in our addiction solely out of spite and grim determination.

For a long time, we can hold on to the resentments toward righteous people—however obtuse our claims actually are.

For a long time, we can brace ourselves against the torrent of grace that all the while threatens to seep into our lives from little holes in our self-made armor.

We’ve seen what we think is the culmination of religion. We’ve seen the overly righteous. The teetotalers. The perfecters of faith.

We’ve seen the callousness that that kind of focus can bring. And we’ve wrongly labeled it as the result rather than a curious lack of spirituality.

All this resentment does is keep us from our own way out.

Focusing on a few who care too much about the wrong things keeps us from walking back toward a God who cares about us.

Faith, like addiction, is personal. Luckily, so is God.

God, thank you for knowing me and still caring.