Why don’t our actions always line up perfectly with our values and ideals? I believe it is because of what we allow to occupy our private thoughts. What comes to us through our senses, will activate our actions, if we ruminate our thoughts upon them. Constant lascivious thoughts, fed by advertising and media, will eventually generate immoral deeds. Frequent viewing of violent materials will lead to violent thoughts and possibly harmful attacks.
The psalmist understood this link between private thoughts and public actions when he wrote; “I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.” Integrity requires that our values and actions match. If we spend our private moments meditating on harmful thoughts, we can expect that these thoughts will eventually make their way into damaging actions.
Reluctant Retiree 