I sometimes disappoint myself. I guess we all do sometimes, but I don’t know what it’s like to be inside your secret thoughts. I can’t see the dark lust you might have hidden in your heart.
But I know the dark longings that come from my ego — and I often have to remind myself who I am. And what my values are.
I crave attention. I lust for success. I want money and adulation from others. Despite the insecure parts of me which question my value, my ego secretly whispers that I deserve all these things. Deep down, I believe I’m great.
In such moments of weakness, I have to remind myself what matters.
Let me tell you about an artist who I admire greatly. There’s an excellent chance you’ve never heard of Steve Taylor. He was a brilliant rock musician in the 1980s and early ’90s whose music was aimed at the Christian market. He rocked hard. His lyrics were razor-sharp and witty. He mocked sacred cows inside the church and in modern culture, too.
Only a small group of weirdos in the church understood what he was doing. Most people were scandalized by him or simply didn’t understand what it was all about. I loved his work.

After first six podcast episodes, I’m encouraged but still a rookie
How much of what we do is driven by our unconscious social scripts?
Today is surgery for me; I’ll give you news and be back when I can
After 50 years of lonely pursuit and disappointment, boy finally gets girl
‘Duck Dynasty’ just another skirmish in an increasingly stupid culture war
Who was this attractive woman? Why did her story not ring true?
Why do we paint ourselves into joyless corners with no way out?
Happiness and success elude me unless I’m doing something I love
Silence and darkness allow us to listen to what world drowns out