Book 3, Chapter 33: Of Instability of the Heart, and of Directing the Aim Towards God.
Chapter Focus: We cannot trust our emotions to lead us. Our feelings can easily misdirect our focus. The wise disciple stays the course, aiming toward a full relationship with Christ.
Chapter 33, In Short.
1. Do not trust your emotions which can quickly change into something else.
2. The aim of your intention must be clear, so that it may be directed to Christ.
Question: What is causing your eyes to wander away from Christ?
Key Quote: But as the eye of your intention is more pure, even so will you make your way steadily through many storms.
The Text of Chapter 33: Of Instability of the Heart, and of Directing the Aim Towards God.
Christ: “My Child, do not trust your emotions, for whatever your emotions are now will soon be changed into something else. As long as you live you
are subject to change, no matter how unwilling you may be. Now you are found joyful, now sad; now at peace, now disquieted; now devout, now godless; now studious, now careless; now sad, now cheerful.
The truly wise and learned in spirit will stand above these changeable things, attentive not to what he may feel in himself, or from what direction the wind may blow, but toward the whole intent of his mind which may carry him on to the final and much-desired end. In this way the disciple will be able to remain one and the same and unshaken, the disciple’s single eye of desire being steadfastly fixed, through the many changes of the world, upon Me.
2. “But as the eye of your intention is more pure, even so will you make your way steadily through many storms. But in many the eye of pure intention becomes dim; for it quickly rests itself upon anything pleasant which occurs and rarely is seldom found altogether free from the blemish of self-seeking. Just so, the community of Bethany came to the house of Martha and Mary, not that they might see Jesus, but Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead (Jn 12:9). Therefore the eye of intention must be cleansed, so that it may be single and true, and above all things which come in its way, may be directed to Me.”