Tim
06-07-2005, 09:21 PM
I ran into this gem in my recovery reading today and think it is worth sharing. By way of introduction, the following quote is from a book that is in the same vein as C.S. Lewis's 'Screwtape Letters'
"The Ego's Paradox: The ego wants everything to remain the same, yet is quickly bored with monotony. It wants to be in charge, yet does not want to be held responsible or accountable. It wants intimacy without vulnerability. It wants consistent variety, stable chaos... renowned anonymity and Godless sobriety.
[The senior devil speaking to his pupil, the junior devil] "There will always be resistance to full surrender by the ego, so always try to set aside part of the patient that he can keep for himself. Have it be his one final holdout against God. Teach him...'This is mine. This is mine,' and eventually it will be yours"
from 'The Glumlot Letters: A Devil's Discourse on Sobriety, Recovery and The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous' by Stanley M (Capizon Publishing, 1997)
"The Ego's Paradox: The ego wants everything to remain the same, yet is quickly bored with monotony. It wants to be in charge, yet does not want to be held responsible or accountable. It wants intimacy without vulnerability. It wants consistent variety, stable chaos... renowned anonymity and Godless sobriety.
[The senior devil speaking to his pupil, the junior devil] "There will always be resistance to full surrender by the ego, so always try to set aside part of the patient that he can keep for himself. Have it be his one final holdout against God. Teach him...'This is mine. This is mine,' and eventually it will be yours"
from 'The Glumlot Letters: A Devil's Discourse on Sobriety, Recovery and The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous' by Stanley M (Capizon Publishing, 1997)