by Sverre Andreassen
One day, a strange thought started to trickle into my mind. What if evil is truly necessary? What if evil must exist in order to tear down what is good, but still not good enough?
Let's do as our religious traditions do -- make the bad, the evil into a being, a "he", someone we can talk about. I am not comfortable with his traditional names, so I will just say "he", you will know who I am referring to.
Let it be the one who tempts us, flatters our ego, blinds us from truth, hides our own imperfections from our view, lets us feel self righteous to the extent of driving us to violence. The one that delights when we remain sleeping and let our lives waste away. The one who whispers: "It doesn't matter. Don't bother. Leave it until tomorrow..." and lots of other very familiar phrases.
He is always ready to offer you a handy excuse for any of your faults or mistakes. He will happily provide you with a rationalization for your ulterior selfish motives. Yes, we must admit it, we use his services daily.
Did you know that this fellow is performing a tremendously important task? Did you know that we cannot do without him? Did you know that he helps you in every way he possibly can? What a thought!
But, what if his temptations are here to teach you? What if his destructiveness is here to tear down what is false? What if his temptations exist in order to test the ones who still can be tempted?
If there is a weakness in your character, he will eventually lure it out into the open for yourself and everyone to see. If there is a crack in the structure of the building, he will find it and tear the whole building down. You will have to start building all over, this time without the weakness that caused the crack.
I think we must learn to discern the tone of his voice. We must become familiar with his choice of words and phrasing. His arguments will start to sound familiar to us. We know he disguises himself, but with practice we can always tell who is speaking.
Once in a while we will choose not to do as he tells us. Almost as an experiment in the beginning, just to see what happens. Of course, something does happen. Something amazing that you acquire a taste for. You would like it to happen again. You may decide to never ever listen to him. You may decide he is your deadly enemy. Don't fool yourself. First you have to get to know him in a long and very intimate relationship.
At some point we will no longer follow his advice, but still recognize his teaching, and be grateful for it. At some point we will laugh at his suggestions, but still be happy to hear his voice. Oh yes, at some point we will recognize him as the faithful friend he is. Then you will forgive him. In the mean time you may curse him, yourself or anyone or anything as you experience the consequences of his advice. Sure, it will take time.
In the end we are left with something that cannot be destroyed. Something that can not be swayed by temptations. Something that has been tested a thousand times. We know it must be the truth. And you know, something that can not be destroyed is not of this world, it does not belong here. Then you will know where you belong.
Yes, this fellow is doing us a favor we can not do without. In the final analysis, every aspect of his work we ever have or will experience is a reaction to our own lack of perfection. He provides the mirror we need, a way for us to look at ourselves and a chance to improve. Without the mirror we would be lost, we would not know in which direction to move.
One day you will no longer need the mirror. The mirror will be gone, and so will "you".
Until then, be good.