A Reminder

Something someone wrote to me that helps me again right now:

The point of all this? No matter how tempting, or wonderful the apple appears, the very holiness of God in it - indeed the only thing that ever made it wonderful to your heart in the first place - will disappear with the horrible act of taking it by breaking the rules. When we break the law, we don't really break it...it breaks us. If cutting off our hands, or plucking out our eye is what's needed to direct us to the right path, the long and difficult path, the path that necessitates patience beyond our human capacity if not for His help, that's the hard play we must make. The very kernel of what we're chasing after, even in our most "depraved wishes" will be there "beyond expectation". That's a hard thing to do, but it is the only way we will avoid misery and be satisfied. There are no two ways about it. Ultimately, everything we've ever wanted or will want in this life is Him. There are traces of Him in everything we find beautiful or enchanting. We must not mistake the created for the Creator. We will be ensnared, and our progress as pilgrims to His city, to Him, will be impeded, and brought to a halt if we allow ourselves to be duped into slumber.