Going Home

In light of some recent conversations and some that have been perpetuating for a while, I figure that I should try to explain something as best I can.

In the quest for heaven, we might liken it to the pathway to our house from a distant land. When we are on this path, we should stick to the path and not wander off. Yes there are times when we might get distracted and go in search of something off the path. But, if you are trying to get home because you want to go there, not just because you need to, then why waste your time by walking off the path. If you really want to get there, shouldn't you be running the whole way? I mean think about it. If you really want and desire to get home, then you would most likely go as quickly as you could so that it would come faster, and then you could be filled with more true joy and peace.

This is like our actions in the world. If we make a mistake, we still need to get back on the path, that is if we do want to go to heaven. If we really love God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit as much as we claim, then it would only make sense that we would want to stick to the path and get home to our Father's house as quickly as possible. Why would we want to go off the path? If we get distracted, then why wouldn't we look back to the path and realize that it will be a far greater joy to make it home than to spend a few moments on the side path. Furthermore, why would we reason with ourselves that our actions, which are clearly objectionable, are still okay because of some sort of societal norms or some development of the world.

There is an ultimate Truth, and this is found at the end of the path. No matter how much we try to convince ourselves of what we are doing is okay, if it's not, then you are on that side path and need to get back on the main road. Usually if you have to rationalize something, it is not something you should be doing anyway. It's that simple. Each of us has a conscience that guides our actions, and if you're looking off the path and trying to rationalize with yourself that you have enough time to get off the path and back and still make it home in time, then you are only fighting with your conscience.

This is where the scary thought comes to play: relativism. Once you have rationalized with yourself that something is okay, then it becomes easier and easier to do it or even something worse the next time. Let's look at an example - foul language. When you say a foul word, something less than the f-bomb, and tell yourself that it's okay, it's only a matter of time, before you will have convinced yourself that it's okay to say something worse and then something worse until it gets to the moment when you can drop the f-bomb. No matter how much you rationalize and relativize your lifestyle, it's not okay to drop the f-bomb. I don't care if your saying it to grab attention of not. Firstly, you shouldn't be trying to grab the attention anyway. That I think you could say would be a minor case of pride and an issue with self-esteem. Secondly, you could use a word like "Bliz-blam." It's a word that commands as much attention, deosn't offend anyone, and is funny in a clean manner. Go ahead, try it. Get back on the path, and stop trying to tell yourself that it's okay to be off the path.

Just because your company has wondered off the path doesn't mean that it's okay for you to do so too. It is your job to pull them back on the path. God asked Cain, "Where is your brother?," to which Cain replied, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (cf. Genesis 4:9). St. Paul's answer is yes (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13) and so is Christ's (cf. Matthew 18:15-17).