March 18th, 2024: Spiritual Dementia

Aging is something none of us can avoid. That is the reality of our mortality. Dementia seems to be on the increase among the people I know. Cognitive decline is one of the early signs. People begin to struggle with their speech (lethologica - having a hard time finding words). It is challenging to carry out tasks, to think, to plan, and to interact with others.

There is another form of dementia that is happening in our time. It is spiritual dementia. It is not just an individual struggle. It is also a societal malaise. We could not find proper words to describe God and to address others. We cannot think straight about who we are. We forget that our life is a gift. We have a hard time relating to one another because of our worldviews about life, death, sin, sickness, health, and God. Our spiritual awareness is depleted faster than we know it. Finding right ways to relate to one another is a real struggle.

Then we watch the news and wonder what happened to esteemed leaders. They don't make sense most of the time. They don't speak properly. They don't remember things. They don't have respect for those who disagree with them. Their cognitive abilities are questionable. They show contempt towards others because of their lack of spiritual awareness. They suffer from the lack of moral acuity.

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word” - Psalm 119:114