Distractions—things which are usually felt to be pleasurable yet take our mind off of seeing heaven—quickly become habits, in which the distractions become much more desirable but much less pleasurable. Habits are the beginnings of idols. We must protect ourselves from distraction then, for Satan is most successful when taking things from us rather than when giving us more. We must seek poverty (which is more than simply the “things” we may or may not possess) so that he has nothing which he is able to take from us, and we must be on guard of the small things, for it is the small things that find their way into the deepest areas of our hearts and then do the most damage as they grow without our knowledge. We must be careful to defend against what C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters says is the most dangerous way of temptation:
“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
I feel like if there were to be any signposts, they would reassure us that everything is still okay if/when we are being inactive.