“It Began Very Innocently”

“I’ve been unfaithful to my wife. I developed a relationship with what started as a dear, dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently as I suspect many of these things do, in just a casual e-mail back and forth in advice on one’s life there and advice here. But here recently, over this last year, it developed into something much more than that.” (from GreenvilleOnline.com)

These are the words of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford earlier today at a news conference admitting to adultery with a woman in Argentina.

Please don’t read this post as jumping on the bandwagon of beating a man and/or his family while they are down. As I read this quote, I was reminded of a post earlier this month about emotional adultery.

Emotional adultery is frightening because it starts so subtly. What starts off as a harmless, casual conversation or look or question or text can lead to a slippery slope. Before you realize it, you’re spending more time with the person, thinking more about the person, pulling away from other relationships.

My team at Browns Bridge talked during our June meeting about the significance of our thoughts. I don’t think we can overstate the significance of being aware of our thoughts. Throughout the Bible, it’s pretty clear that God wants us to think about the right things. Our thoughts are simply what has our attention. When it comes to relationships and adultery, we typically and wrongly blame our heart and emotions. It starts with our thoughts.

Our thoughts lead to our emotions which lead to our actions.