A Syndrome

There’s a syndrome which we’ve all observed, and which some of us have contracted and, I hope, from which we’re recovering. I’ve never heard it named, which is strange because it’s clearly pervasive. The symptoms consist of repeated promises of varying degrees of sincerity—some abject, some flippant, all intended to convince—to cease some behavior which produces undesirable consequences. Over and over a husband, for instance, will swear off some behavior [be it alcohol abuse, gambling, overeating, womanizing, overspending, deriding his wife in public, foul language, sloppy habits, and on and on], presumably intending to abide by his word. Each time he is profoundly apologetic. Whether or not he really believes he wants to, can, or will change his behavior is critical. Perhaps he thinks he is sincere, but subconsciously doesn’t want to change. Perhaps he has no intention of changing, but wants to convince others that he will.
The occurrence of this syndrome seems to have nothing to do with intelligence or socio-economic status. I’m intimately familiar with it, and have watched it wreak havoc in many relationships, including my own. It is wicked in its consequences, and almost always requires some sort of intervention, human and/or divine, to effect a change in attitude— a far greater miracle, in my opinion, than physical healing. Such internal conversions are marks of humility, needed for both spiritual and emotional growth [which are the only true evidence of life]. Key to the process is willingness, and a belief that "God can do this if He is sought."