My Dear Wormwood,
With great pleasure, I received your last message indicating the fear your patient felt at the ongoing international calamity. Indeed, the censors of Hell have been filled with the aroma of human panic. Such delights, you must know, enchant Our Father’s heart. My admonishment to you is to continue feeding this fear. Be sure that you entice him to check his social media accounts. It makes little difference whether he reads a news report, cynical conspiracy, or a witty meme-the thing is to keep the source of fear before his eyes. When his mind turns toward work, family, friends, or especially to our Enemy, slip into his conscience a reminder of what could happen. In fact, this is the key: the Enemy desires the humans to be concerned with what they do. Your job is to focus the patient’s attention on how things may turn out. The present circumstances should help with this.
While times of great turmoil gladden our souls and human dread is our sacrament, I must warn you that such seasons can give rise to an awful specter. I can barely write it: humans considering their own mortality. Ah! Perish the thought! Slybucks and his research team have invested ages in perfecting the art of distraction. Most of our patients are buried in so many layers of them, that even if one is lost, we still have them firmly under our control. But even our best tempters have, at times, been thwarted by patients contemplating death. When it forces itself before their eyes, they begin to grapple with their priorities, order their affections, and fly to the protection of the Enemy. For reasons we have not yet discerned, He always receives them.
Wormwood, scattered reports have reached my desk which concern me. Mind you, there is time to work these developments in our favor, but you must act swiftly. The cancellation of sporting events, closing of schools, and social-distancing are giving your patient time for silence and reflection. It is precisely this scenario which could undermine all of your efforts. Instead of letting him use this time wisely, you must engender in him feelings of sadness for the toys he has lost. Lead him to wonder when he will have them again. A double pleasure! Not only will you distract him from the thoughts which would lead him to the Enemy but you will have him dwelling on distractions he cannot have. In his disappointment and despair, bring his attention again to his worst fears. His misery will be your amusement now and his soul ours forever.
Your affectionate Uncle,
Screwtape
