It seems to me that some of us are not geared to the spiritual but to the physical. It seems to be an extra effort for us to concentrate on the spiritual. For example, I don't know why my thoughts are always thinking of ways to improve my house. As I look at the news magazines and listen to the conversation of folks at work the focus is mostly on personal appearance, physical and financial. I don't know if this is ingrained habit or culture. My father was a carpenter and was always concerned about his job, how to figure out what he is going to do next at the job site. So, by habit it seems I am subject to that, what project to do next in my house and to gain temporary satisfaction when I accomplish a project I had envisioned.
 
Yet I want to be a more spiritual Christian, but it seems I am always avoiding it by getting caught up in these time consuming projects. I personally must force myself to concentrate on spiritual things. When I do I become blessed. However it is not consistent. I have a friend who is the same way. He is now facing a debilitating surgery, he will no longer be able to work. It seems to me his only option to be productive is to concentrate on prayer, something our society seems to avoid at all costs. Perhaps God is running out of committed prayer warriors.
 
I guess we do not concentrate on the inside of the cup because that is painful. When given the option we usually try to avoid painful choices and difficult encounters. We put off the worst job till the last. Yet it seems to me if we are going to have spiritual progress we must yield to God when he exposes these inconsistencies in us, whether it be in a prick of conscious, a uncomfortable encounter or a disturbing dream.