Letter 14

I think letter 14 says a lot about our society and many people today. It is so easy today for people to get hard on themselves when they do not succeed in something or someone puts them down. This leads to a lot of internal conflict. I think that the devil’s aim is really to tear down people and their self-esteem. Once he is able to do that, we turn to some of the temporary joys that I talked about in my last letter such as alcohol, sex, and drugs. Even though we are happy when we are experiencing these joys, we find out that they are not long-lasting. Our problems are long-lasting until we find the appropriate guidance. A lot of people have difficult times asking people for help when they have self-esteem issues, but that is such an important time to ask people for help. It is important also to mention that the people you talk to should be positive and not also struggling with self-esteem issues and wanting to tear you down. Like people say “misery enjoys company”. I think that really in order to really find an inner strength, we need to pray and talk to the Lord for his guidance.

Screwtapes 7-9

The letter that I chose to focus on is letter 9. I believe that letter 9 is very fitting to how society is today. Many people get a temporary joy when they go out and drink, do drugs and have random sex. We are a culture that basically says, “Have a bad day? Go to Happy Hour.” This is such a problem today. When we are out trying to feel better about our day and situation, we are only receiving joy temporarily. Our joy quickly fades the next morning when we are hung over and still facing the same troubles we were before. The devil gets excited when we do this. God didn’t intend for us to have meaningless sex with multiple partners just for pleasure. It is intended to happen with a spouse to reproduce and to enjoy with that person as well. Drugs can be categorized just like alcohol. We can get an easy high with drugs and experience immense pleasure but once that high is over, we are still the same person with the same problems. I am not perfect and have myself fallen for some of these temporary pleasures, but I do know that God’s love along with love from loved one’s is a joy and pleasure that is natural, unconditional, and not temporary.