There’s a character on Disney’s Phineas and Ferb with a great name that I love to say-  Dr. Doofenshmirtz.  If you watch the cartoon like my daughter and I,  you would also know that he is the not-so-bright mad scientist/propietor of Doofenschmirtz Evil Incorporated. (A corporation dedicated to high-tech, but  poorly executed evil plans to take over the world.)  

Unlike cartoon villains, most of us never intend to live lives devoted to evil.  With the possible exception of the guy who invented the snuggie and pajama jeans, (both of which WILL be part of the end of civilization :-) ) ,  most people do not set out to waste their lives and harm others.   I’m convinced that most people set out with dreams of living lives that matter…lives that would make the world a better place to live…things just don’t exactly turn out the way they planned.   Evil just seems to “happen”. 

Our reading today (Proverbs 4) ends with this warning: 

²³ Guard your heart above all else,
      for it determines the course of your life.

 ²⁴ Avoid all perverse talk;
      stay away from corrupt speech.

 ²⁵ Look straight ahead,
      and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
 ²⁶ Mark out a straight path for your feet;
      stay on the safe path.
 ²⁷ Don’t get sidetracked;
      keep your feet from following evil.

Is anything side-tracking you towards evil?

Are you guarding your heart?

What would you need to change to be on a safe path?