But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. – Acts 15:38, Amplified Bible (AMP)

In May 2011, 20-year old Chris Staniforth of Great Britain died from a deep vein thrombosis that resulted from a marathon video gaming session. According to ABCNews.com:

A deep vein thrombosis is a clot that forms in the deep veins in the legs. When the clot breaks off, it can move through the bloodstream and cause blockages. One the more common is a pulmonary embolism, which happens when there’s a blockage of the main artery that carries oxygenated blood to the lungs…One of the biggest risk factors for developing blood clots that could eventually break off and travel to the lungs, heart or other vital organs is prolonged sedentary activity.

Although older, less active people are more prone to blood clots that younger people or active people, no one is immune to the possibility of DVTs. For example, professional tennis star Serena Williams suffered from a blood clot in 2011 – the same year Mr. Staniforth passed away – resulting from a long plane ride following recent foot surgery. The best deterrent to DVTs is to break up prolonged sitting or standing spells with an hourly walk lasting for a few minutes. The point is to keep blood flowing to prevent clotting.

In the spiritual realm, we can easily suffer from DVTs of the soul. Due to prolonged periods of spiritual inactivity, our connection with the body of Christ – both vertically with God and horizontally with our brothers and sisters in Christ – can be blocked. In Acts 15, we find an example of a spiritual DVT. John, also called Mark, left Paul and Barnabas at Pamphylia, abandoning the work to which he had committed. His choice to leave the work created a relational blockage between himself and Paul, and eventually between Barnabas and Paul.

Thankfully, such blockages need not be permanent. Later, in 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul asks Timothy to, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.” By the time 2 Timothy was written, Mark had re-engaged in the work of Christ, not only being profitable to Paul in his ministry, but being profitable to us all by authoring the Gospel of Mark.

The inactivity that spawns spiritual DVTs can arise from any number of causes: fear, doubt, slothfulness, weariness, depression, and selfishness, just to name a few. Whatever the cause, the result is the same – a blockage that hurts our fellowship with God and with other believers. Whenever our relationships with our Father or with our brethren are strained, we need to look for signs of the spiritual inactivity that is likely the cause.

Are we constantly conversing with God through prayer and Bible reading/mediation? Are we showing love for our brethren by coming alongside them in their times of need? Or, are we wrapped up in our own worlds, oblivious to everything spiritual as we pursue everything temporal? Be aware of sedentary activity of the soul, and root it out of your life every time you detect it. Until you do, your spiritual relationships will suffer from painful, dangerous blockages.

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