TWILY Ministries | Love Notes | August 2008
Dealing With “Distractions”
There I was, only blocks from reaching my
destination, when - ONCE AGAIN - I
found myself turning the car around to head back home; and for
what?; To put my mind at
ease. See, I could not remember whether or not I had turned off the Curling Irons!
I definitely remember "looking at them”, making a “mental note” to do so, but "Had
I actually followed-thru with it?" That was the nagging question, and I just could NOT answer it with any degree of
certainty; so then, like all the other
times, I had to make a return trip. You know
what, though? In nearly every case, upon arriving home, I found that I had
indeed "turned them off",
so there would be no harm done - if we don't count the wasted gas, mileage, and not arriving on time! Beside all of those things, though, the “frequency” of those “curling-iron-runs”, and the like, really began to bother me. I thought, “How does this type of thing keep happening to us anyway?” – assuming no mental illness is involved. “Weren’t we there?”
Of course the answer is “Yes, we
were there”, only NOT wholeheartedly!
We were “DISTRACTED!”
While that is not SUCH a big deal where “minor
activity” is concerned, it is MAJOR deal where “major activity” is concerned,
for instance “working for God’s Kingdom!” (Why can’t I get away from this topic? – I
wonder!)
Looking at it from that angle, then, it is imperative that we start “dealing with our
Distractions”. See, distractions make it difficult for us to work
effectively - if they don’t STOP us all together!
That makes the enemy happy, of course, because he doesn’t want us to “finish
what God” has assigned us to do for the Kingdom. He is not too concerned about
anything we – as Oswald Chambers put it - "instigate by our own human nature". See that stuff won’t last anyway; if it isn’t
for Christ, right?
Now, don’t confuse “distractions” with OBSTACLES,
those things that prevent us from ever “getting started”, in the first place. No, DISTRACTIONS, are somewhat different, in that they can prevent
us from "FINISHING Work" that is well underway; and it doesn’t have to be anything “way out there”, so to speak. Nope; Any
ordinary thing can do the job just fine!
For instance, I was trying to finish this Love Note by a certain day
(shamefully, which has come and gone) I was
well on my way, too, that is until I decided to “check the weather report.” Well, I never saw the weather report,
but I did notice that the Olympics were on. From that moment on, I sat there
with my
hands on the keyboard and my eyes watching Michael Phelps
accomplish “his” goal. I tell you one
thing; he would NEVER divide his attention like I was doing at the time. No
serious athlete would! They are determined to let NOTHING - not even pain or embarrassment - distract them from their mission. I've seen several athletes demonstrate that, but NONE quite as convincing as Midori Ito, a figure skater from
You may have seen her, years ago, during the World
Figure Skating Championship; She had been “favored to win”, and why not? - She had won
almost every competition she'd entered. That particular year, though, the
pressure was really on - both personally
and nationally - for her to bring home the prize. Things didn't go so smoothly, though. While completing one of her
technical stunts, she lost her footing
and fell to the ice. When it was all over, she hadn't just fallen, she
had slid completely off the rink, right into the Cameras Pit! Everyone was so shocked! Now, I can’t tell you whether she
“placed first or last”, but I can tell you what she said, during her interview – never forgot
it!
During the interview, the reporter said, "Midori, with all eyes fixed so intently on you to
win, what were you thinking when you found yourself down in the cameras pit?”
Without hesitation, Midori responded, (and I quote) "To be
honest, all I thought was
"Gosh,
it hurts!" [and] "When
I jumped into the cameras pit, I thought, Why am I here? I must go and skate!"
Okay, stop laughing (you gotta be at least smiling – I was when I heard it!) Although her choice of words was kind of funny, "that was one powerful statement!" Wasn’t it? That woman was determined to “finish her course” and not even an embarrassing fall – or anything else - would distract her from doing so! She made her point well, but let's look at one more person, Nehemiah, who made that same point, long before she did.
With everything he needed to rebuild the Wall around the city of
4)
Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their
reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of
captivity. 5) Do not forgive their iniquity and let not
their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders. 6) So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to
half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
He didn’t lift one finger against them - “physically”. That would have done nothing but “split his
attention” between two things; Building a Wall and a Physical Fight. No, he did the wise thing: prayed & kept right on working!
I can’t think of a better example (although, I still
love Midori’s attitude and response.)
Friends,
there is no way
that we can effectively engage in - let alone
complete - our God-given assignments when our attention is drawn to
“different objects” or “in different directions” at the same time – as Webster defines distraction. We must “choose” – during those moments - “What of all this stuff” is priority?
That’s really what it all comes down
to. We have to, speak to ourselves; just like the Psalmist
did. He was accustomed to “blessing the Lord” at all times, and not even
“depression” would be permitted to “keep him from doing so!” He said:
Why are you cast down, O my inner self?
And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and
wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God. –
(Psalm 42: 5 – AV)
Wow! Now, that’s dealing with distraction, and “dealing with
distractions”, we must!; that is IF
we want to start and “finish the work” we are called to,
and for sure, we are “all called to some task” in the Kingdom of God! So, let’s
get on with those, and when the distractions arrive, let’s “take it to our
Lord” in prayer. He will give us the power we need to “go [on] and SKATE!” Why
would He not? It’s for His glory!
God willing, see you next Month. Until then, stay
encouraged. Oh, and speaking of "being encouraged", thanks so much for all of
your wonderfully encouraging feedback!" I appreciate it so much. I really
do! What a blessing!
Love in Christ,
Joyce
© 2008 Joyce Bailey Use by permission.