[Mad Dawg]

Thanks.

Isn’t all this kind of WHY it’s called “straight and narrow”?

From the earliest days, from the Judaizers in Acts and the various factions in, say, Corinth, there are those who slip off the Way to one side or the other.

And, as I am fond of saying, Bunyan says in “Pilgrim’s Progress” (which I read in, get this, 1962!) “Then I saw that there was a way to Hell, even from the Gates of Heaven, ...”

So, yes, eyes on the prize. I wish I could convey how the Rosary is, to me, ALL about eyes on the prize.

[Quix]

For YOU, I can MOSTLY believe that.

[Lorica]

“Then I saw that there was a way to Hell, even from the Gates of Heaven, ...”

I've been avoiding a couple of these threads althogether, but when I saw your name on the forum page, I went ahead and clicked to see what you were saying. Some really good stuff from you, as usual.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

So, yes, eyes on the prize. I wish I could convey how the Rosary is, to me, ALL about eyes on the prize.

Of a truth, I cannot know what the other guy is thinking. But God knows. And the other guy might or might not know his own heart.

The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jer 17:9

At any rate, I choose to not judge the other guy because I cannot know his thoughts and intents, I cannot truly understand, and I don't trust my sensory perception above my spiritual perception.

For instance, two people can walk into the Sistine Chapel and have the same physical, visible reaction - but one is in awe of God inspired by just being there, and the other is an idolator enthralled by the architecture, art and luxurious appointments.

The following, for instance, has two different readings:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. - Psalms 121:1-2 KJV

The one reading is that we should lift our eyes unto the hills and remember that our help comes from the Lord.

The other reading, which I perceive, is that God made the heaven and earth so don't think your help comes from the hills (creation.)

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. - Psalms 121:1-2

And two people may have the same visible reaction looking a photograph of a loved one, alive in the flesh or at home with God. But one is focused on God, thanking Him for that person. And the other is loving that person surpassingly above all else, including God.

In sum, we must examine ourselves and invite God to help us keep our priorities straight.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. - Psalms 139:23-24

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. - I Cor 11:28-32

God's Name is I AM.