The term atrophy can be used to describe almost any reduction in a person’s capacity, I believe, including their emotions and their spirituality. However, it is normally associated with physiological diseases or aging in general. I spend a few hours every week reading to residence of a local nursing facility. I see elderly people who have literally shrunk in physical size, and in many cases, in their mental capacity. Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. The experts say that the causes of physical atrophy include mutations (cell mutations tend to destroy the gene that was designed to build up the atrophying organ), poor nourishment, poor circulation, decreased hormonal support, a loss of nerve supply supporting the organ, disuse or lack of exercise and/or diseases intrinsic to the tissue atrophying. As described in the above statements, atrophy is not limited to age, for there are many things that cause it. The most common reason for atrophy, based on what I have learned, is lack of use. It is very sad to know that a person may be wasting away because they refuse to exercise their mind or body properly.
It is becoming more and more common to see brain atrophy among the elderly, commonly referred to as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. This, too, is usually disease caused, but interestingly, one of the ways prescribed to reverse it (as much as that may be possible) is to use or to exercise it. The brain can be exercised by using puzzles, playing cards or other things that challenge the person’s intellect.
I have seen young people who are confined to wheelchairs with little or no hope of ever being free to walk and live normal lives, whose disease has left them, physically, mere shadows of what they were or what they normally would have become. Atrophy among the young is most always related to disease; youth have too much energy and vibrancy to atrophy because of a lack of exercise.
There is another kind of atrophy, the atrophy of a person’s spirit. This form of atrophy is most definitely associated with disuse or lack of spiritual exercise. Many people who were at one time actively involved in church have become inactive. Why is that? Most usually, it is because of a conscience issue; they have done something that takes them down a different path, and they are not ready to give it up. Not always, but I believe that is the most common reason. The longer they remain away, the harder it is for them to return. It is almost like their spirit has atrophied. As their spirit gets cold, the easier it becomes to take even longer steps into the “world.” There is a great story, I believe I have told before in one of my thoughts, but it fits the topic of spiritual atrophy very well, so I have used it again. it is called “The Quiet Sermon.” A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, had stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The Pastor made himself to home, but said nothing. And in the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth, all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word was spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
We are very precious to our Father, and that is why there are several parables that speak of finding those who have strayed or have been lost: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:7) Spiritual atrophy is a serious problem in most church congregations, but we must try to keep the embers glowing in each and everyone.