But when it is venial and when it is deadly I cannot fully tell thee; nevertheless, a little I shall say, as methinketh. When the stirrings of pride are received and turned into liking, so far that the heart chooseth them for a full rest and a full delight, and seeketh no other end, but only the liking therein, then is this pride deadly sin; for he maketh and chooseth this delight as his god, without any opposing of his reason or will, and therefore it is deadly sin. (John Climacus)

I have - or at least had - mixed motives for writing these morning meditations.

When I began several years ago, I hoped that I could prompt a discussion that would generate readership that would help me make a living writing on spiritual themes.

There was some pride in this motivation. But there have been no discussions and there are very few readers.

I have persisted because there is something about publishing, even for one or two others that sharpens my attention and pushes me to compose on the most sluggish mornings.

Being an honored and affluent author is a prideful vision. But it was not my only end and did not keep me from forsaking the pride and staying with the task.