When we are overcome by the heat of the moment, our thoughts become as flexible as a run away train.

Seductive words lead to aroused emotions that lead to impassioned actions that exhibit a one-track mind.

The hormones heat up … and the brain cells melt down.

It’s not that our hearing aid is turned down, it’s that our passion has drowned out any warning signals — from our conscience, from our friends, from our spiritual upbringing — that might have been transmitted. Passion muffles the hearing.

“My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:1-4, ESV).

“Be attentive,” the wise man pleads, “incline your ear.” The warning signs are there, but are we listening? Sometimes when a parent takes the time to warn, to teach a child, when the drug drop takes place, or the moment of seduction occurs, then the conscience has a chance of stopping the train of thought.

When the seductive words begin, smooth as graphite, sweet as saccharine, the wise man knows that the capacity to reason well is impaired. “Is this right?” becomes, “This feels good!” “What are the consequences?” becomes “I deserve this, I’ve been so lonely!”

Runaway trains don’t stop on a dime, and runaway passions will break several barriers before they come to a halt.

You can’t stop the train; you have to get off!

–by Stan Mitchell @ www.forthright.net