With The Heart

19 Sep

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
~  Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

There is a special place in my heart (no pun intended) for The Little Prince.  That was the book that I had to translate when I was learning French.  Le Petit Prince was a struggle for me because I had to get the translation just right.  At the same time, the tale that it told was wonderful and, at times, breathtaking in its simplicity.  It has always been a classic that I have recommended to others to read (recommendation intended).

There is a real art to being led by our heart.  Too many people live guided only by their head.  If it makes good business sense, they will do something.  If it makes fiscal sense, legal sense, whatever kind of in-your-head sense it could be, the intellect rules their decisions and, consequently, their actions.

Then there are others who are led solely by their heart.  Their emotions are all over the place and their decisions change constantly because they are moved by anyone who tugs at their heartstrings.  That is not the way to live by the heart.

I truly believe that, if we are to be led by the heart, the heart has to be informed by the head.  We need to think things through.  We need to know what makes sense.  We need to know what sacrifice a course of action or a decision might entail.  Then, properly informed, we have to search our heart and ask what Jesus would have us do.

If we allow the Heart of Christ to inform our hearts, we will never have a problem, at least, not with God.  We might end up in sticky messes here on earth; but, they will at least be the kind of messes of which the Lord would approve and in which the Lord would help us through.

Being led by the heart does not mean that we become emotional messes.  Being led by the heart means that we will be able to see rightly because we are viewing people and things as God views them.  When we are able to meet people heart to heart, we, too, will see what is invisible to the eye and will be able to respond to them in very appropriate ways and in a timely manner.

FAITH ACTION:  Let your head inform your decisions today; but, let your heart guide your actions.