Do ordinary desires -- for food, romance, peer approval, success -- conflict with spiritual ambitions in your life? How can you deal with such conflicts?

I think sometimes they have.  I think there have been times when I'd much rather be visiting with my boyfriend rather than go to a church choir rehearsal that might be pretty important not to miss.  Probably the best way to deal with these kind of conflicts is to really make the smart decisions on what is more important.  Not that love isn't important in ones life, but if something is a team effort, then that probably ways more than a relationship.