Yes, absolutely Rich. James tell us that ‘Our Father who sees in secret doesn’t despise our smelly little desires, and in fact, suggests that if only we can hold on to them, and insist on articulating them, that we will actually find ourselves, over time, moving through them organically to wanting more’. The possibility to acknowledge the desires that disturb us, even to greet them, and then let them go gently like a leaf floating down a stream, is today called “cognitive therapy”. But it is the teaching of the Desert Fathers of nearly two millennia ago. This is so important in contemplative prayer and is very effective. My psychiatrist friend once told me that anger is a good friend as it tells us that something is wrong!
