Always darkest before the dawn.

 St John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Engaging it spiritual activity usually brings some form of encouragement to continue the practice or most of would give up pretty quickly. This may range from a minimal level to feelings of euphoria at times. The Spirit of God nurtures, us caresses us much as a mother or care giver, making sure our needs and desires are met. This is much of an infant stage of our spiritual development. St John then suggest a time will come when God wishes to take us deeper into him and burn off the dross of sin that may ensnare us through our devotional practice, our activity with God. He list seven types of sin that entrap us through our very activity with God.

1. Secret Spiritual Pride: brought about by our apparent success in "spiritual matters,"  those who delight to talk about spiritual things to show how clever they are. The answer to this springs as we learn to find humility when we focus not on our own cleverness but in the amazing character and activity of God. Pride becomes humility
2. Spiritual Greed: when we love the feelings that we get from the devotions and are always looking for more. When the feelings we experience become more than the inward journey. God may chose to take the pleasure away till the inward journey assumes its rightful place. Greed become simplicity
3. Spiritual Luxury: the person may be deep in prayer and experience deep temptations or fears caused by either the devil or physical pleasure during the process of prayer and communion. God may take all sensory pleasure away and the soul is purified by its absence. Luxury becomes peace.
4. Spiritual Anger and Wrath: may develop when some of the experiential manifestations of the devotional life are removed. We must seek meekness that will come about in the dark night of the soul. Wrath becomes contentment.
5. Spiritual Gluttony: becoming addicted to our spiritual activity and wanting more and more. Interestingly when we have received no pleasure from our devotions we can feel we have achieved very little during our time. This is quite wrong and is more attached to our flesh than our spirit. Gluttony becomes moderation.
6. Spiritual Envy: People who fancy themselves as spiritual are often not to pleased as they hear about the spiritual growth of others. Their chief concern is to get themselves praised by others. This is quite contrary to the teachings on love by Paul. Envy turns to joy
7. Spiritual Sloth: When the things above happen sometimes we just become weary when our needs aren't met we just give up.These are just the crosses we need to learn to bear in dark night of the soul. Sloth turns to Strength.

I thought this all very well if you are a 16th century monk, but is it relevant to the 21st century post modern westerner. I was unsure whether we had the depth have such problems. As I chewed these seven types of spiritual malaise over I began to see evidence of these things having been in my life. There have been times when I could relate to Secret spiritual pride, greed, gluttony, and envy. Mercifully they weren't there all at once! God is generous. I would not say I have completely overcome, but I am on the way in all. Into the darkness comes the light. As with the picture above it only takes a candle for it not to be completely dark any more.