The Flesh is Weak

This phrase recurs frequently in the affairs of humanity and in various forms, such as, “sins the flesh is heir to” and “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” It is used in general as an explanation of why we individually and collectively frequently fail to live up to our ideals. From that point of view it is of course true but it often sounds to me as though those who use the term are aiming some kind of criticism at God for not arranging things differently.

The flesh is weak because it is supposed to be that way. It is part of the Divine plan for humanity, I believe. The weaknesses we possess are there paradoxically as a stimulus for the spirit. It is how we deal with our weaknesses and how successful we are at loving and caring, despite their influence that marks our progress as spiritual beings. There are many people who look down upon human weaknesses and try their best to take advantage of them to their own material benefit; people who consider themselves “strong” and quite above the commonplace. How foolish they are! Frequently they misinterpret weakness and believe their own bluster and aggression will enable them to triumph over everything and thus earn the respect of their fellows.

Such people fail to see that doubt and uncertainty are endearing human traits, not weaknesses as they consider them to be. Doubt and uncertainty are the precursors of trust. There are times in life when each one of us feels circumstances are quite out of our personal control and we know not where to turn. At such times we are forced to trust in the guidance of someone or something greater than ourselves. The “strong” individual fights against such ‘weakness’ as he sees it and does not believe there is anything or anyone greater than himself or herself. He finds it almost impossible to have the kind of trust that says “all that happens is meant to happen because of forces set in motion earlier” and we must make the best of things as they are, or in other words “Whatever is, is right.”

Sometimes we are attacked unjustly and feel our anger rising at such injustice and we want to hit out at who-ever or whatever is persecuting us. Jesus of Nazareth urged people not to follow their instincts in such circumstances but rather to “turn the other cheek”. He knew all about the strength there is in meekness and in the Sermon on the Mount stated “The meek shall inherit the earth.” The spirit is certainly stronger than the flesh but not in the way that our earlier “strong man” would interpret strength. The strength of the spirit is in love, pure, unconditional love; love that always tries to place the interests of others before its own; love that recognises that all living things are inextricably linked trough the power of the spirit that flows through all life.

I believe the weakness of the flesh exists to ensure that, no matter how materialistic and selfish we may become, its mechanism will eventually bring us to the realisation that the flesh is only a small part, though important whilst on Earth, of our true personality; the realisation that within us beats a stronger heart than that which registers on an electrocardiogram; the realisation that when our conscious mind feels we are defeated, that is when our true strength, the strength of our spirit, is revealed. For some this only occurs after they have left the Earth and returned to the Spirit Realms where we all originated. For such people this is a harder road to walk than if they had recognised their divinity and the spiritual power and strength within them whilst on earth. It is so much more sensible and rewarding to allow the spirit equal expression with the conscious mind while we are here. If we can do that our lives on Earth will be fuller and happier, we will live longer and have fewer illnesses. Above all, we will discover a wonderful extra dimension to our lives that is hidden from the self-centred and the purely materialistic.

Try as we will to be good, kind and considerate, we will often fail but that is not a reason to give up. The old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again” is nowhere more valuable than in this area of human endeavour. If we keep trying, despite the setbacks, we will become spiritually stronger and more resilient and the sum of our happiness will be vastly increased, for it is in service to our fellow beings that we truly serve God.