Do we talk much about the soul anymore? After 90 years of “scientific psychology” (psychology was once called the “science of the soul”), have we tried to limit our discussions to physically observable phenomena?
The soul — if I may attempt a very brief description — is that part of a person that lives within our physical being, drives our personality, unites with or rebels from God, and lives forever. The care and feeding of the soul is probably our single most important task in life.
As I continue to read through Julian of Norwich, this passage jumped out at me this morning
God showed two kinds of sickness of the soul that we have:
-the one is impatience or sloth
-the other is despair or doubtful fear
I’m not sure which would be more prevalent for us today. We certainly want instantaneous results. Evidently people 600 years ago did, too. But I have to believe in this electronic age that we are even more impatient. And if we can’t get results right away (without working for them I might add), then we don’t want to bother working for them.
A woman I knew once was hiring young people for entry-level marketing positions. She was amazed. These young people would say “OK, I’ll do this for a year or so, but I expect to become CEO of this large company after a couple of years.” They didn’t understand the work and sacrifice it takes to be CEO–or to just improve as human beings.
Then there is the sickness of whining. “I can’t do it. Mom liked you better. I was never good enough.” These people are diverted from seeking God (remember her “seek, wait, trust”?).
She said later that it was easier to know God than to know ourselves. Unfortunately, the first step to healing these sicknesses, if you have one, is to be able to look at yourself, recognize the sickness and then work to heal it. Here’s a tip. If something is getting in the way of your prayer, study or fellowship life, then it is time to find that obstacle and work on it.
Faith Venture 
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