Pratt: A spiritual battle between good and evil is ongoing worldwide

Oral communication is immensely important, so much so that we neglect or fail to recognize the written word that keeps the story accessible.

Without that story, would we realize the civilizing influence of mankind on a planet bursting with the most basic cells that make up not only who we are as humans, but indeed, the entire life of the planet?

So much is invisible to the eye, yet tells us that there is much more than we have the capacity to imagine. It is true that the  “The past is prologue to the future.”

We live in the present, but we must understand that we exist in part because of those who went before us.

For years I have been fascinated with scientific advances, yet concerned that we have a tendency to rush forward in an excitement or incitement, often failing to consider the consequences.

As advances in transportation fast and furiously shook the world with even more weapons of death, it also created knowledge that led to advances in the medical field.

Not only do we see a world today shrinking and trembling at the thought of how small it has become, we also see great hope in knowledge about healing the human body, even a spiritual element. But what about our souls?

“The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human” by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a great introduction to recent progress in the understanding of cells and how scientists study the complexity of life. He is a Pulitzer prize winner for “The Emperor of All Maladies.”

Along with his scientific abilities, Mukherjee continues award-level writing, summarizing the concepts for those of us not so well educated in the medical/biological field.

But while we focus on healing, the world still struggles to contain those who would destroy their neighbors such as in the Russian attack on Ukraine.

A spiritual battle between good and evil is ongoing worldwide, even into our schools and communities by people blinded by jealous ambition, the same kind of evil that prompts much of humanity to choose violence over concern for the well being of our neighbor.

A reminder: the biblical admonition to “Love your neighbor...” is not meant to be restricted to those in the pew at church on Sunday.

The second book that I recommend is by journalist Benjamin Hall, a young man with a young family who has made his mark as a war correspondent. This one not only describes the horror of war in “SAVED: A War Reporter's Mission to Make it Home,” is a veteran at reporting such conflicts, but this time his survival is nothing less than a miracle.

For those too “smart” these days to believe in miracles, Hall is living testimony that God is a force for good in the world. We can change our perspective and our future for the better if we but give ourselves to the task to which we are called.

He learned it not only was acceptable to cry in the midst of fear and pain, but necessary to share his feelings as a human being in great pain. In sharing his pain, he also becomes an important element of the story.

“The crying felt good,” he says. “It righted the ship.”

His courage anchored by faith and determination that he to get home to see his wife and two little girls, Hall's rescue is nothing short of miraculous. His work companions died that day..

Putting experience into words on paper helps us relive our dependency on each other and on God. The story-teller is not just in the moment, but for eternity.

All life comes from tiny cells that miraculously appear and multiply. We are God's design, made by an intelligence that goes far beyond our individual capacities. As individuals, we become Good vs. Evil by choice. May the Good multiply is my prayer today.

Beth Pratt retired as religion editor from the Avalanche-Journal after 25 years. You can email her at beth.pratt@cheerful.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Pratt: A spiritual battle between good and evil is ongoing worldwide