Who is driving the train? Certainly this is an important question for us all to be able to answer. Is the train driver going to take you to the destination that you are seeking? The train that I have in mind here is a very special train – the train of thought. What track does your train of thought take and where does it lead you? For many people, their thoughts are traveling down many different tracks, constantly switching from one track to another, never sure where the tracks will take them. Others begin to follow a certain track but then they go off track and they get derailed and their train of thought becomes a train wreck. Others might find themselves switching to a new track and it takes them to a dead end. We need to learn to follow a train of thought that will lead us to the destination that our hearts truly desire. As Christians we need to develop a one track mind. The one track that our train of thought must travel is the track of love, a love that comes from the discipline of following the commandments of Christ. “Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (Jn 15,9f) When we remain on track and our train of thought follows the way of love then we will arrive at our destination – joy. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15,12)
“I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul;” (Is 6,10) The Lord needs to be driving our train of thought and leading us down the one track of love so that we might arrive at the complete joy that our soul desires. Our train of thought needs to be fueled by a fire in the engine – the fire of the Holy Spirit. “Do not quench the Spirit.” (1Thes 5,19) The fire of the Spirit keeps our train of thought moving in the right direction until we reach the destination of joy our hearts seek. “I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph 4,1-6) One track! God has given us a Spirit-driven itinerary for our spiritual lives. Our train of thought must follow one track of love. “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3,2f) “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil 4,8) This is the train of thought that our enlightened minds must take. This is the train of thought that leads us to our destination of joy.

The Third Sunday of Advent reminds us of the destination of our spiritual journey in Christ – joy! “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thes 5,16-18) Jesus comes into our lives to get us on track and to set our train of thought on higher and more wonderful things. Jesus is the way that leads us to the Father and to our destination of unending joy. John the Baptist is a beautiful example of someone with a one track mind. He comes to “Make straight the way of the Lord.” John gives testimony to the light of Christ that enlightens our train of thought and leads us to joyful thinking.

Paul keeps us on track with some very simple guidance and advice, “Test everything: retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.” (1Thes 5,21f) Retain and refrain. Our train of thought must follow what is good and avoid all evil. Don’t go down the track of evil and become derailed. Don’t think about past hurts, resentments, impurities, vanities, false gods, material pleasures, covetousness and other deceptions. There is no joy for you down those tracks. In this season of Advent, “let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross…” (Heb 12,1f) “May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thes 5,23) Fix your train of thought on the one track of Christ Jesus and seek the perfection of holiness in his Spirit of love and truth and you will know the way, and be on track, to unending joy.