Distracted by Life

I can be distracted by anything – popping gum, banging of a keyboard, humming of the air conditioner, buzzing in my ears… Sometimes when I’m writing, I’m even distracted by my pen and I’ll start wondering if there is a perfect pen that glides better than the one I’m using. Life holds the potential to distract me to the point where I focus on the insignificant, and not on God. 

Ian’s breathing can even distract me! In fact, sometimes Ian’s breathing seems to distract me more than ole’ Riley the dog’s breathing! Distractions can be ridiculous yet severe, irritating yet dangerous. But all distractions distract us. That’s what they do.

A few hours after the wedding of my mother to my stepfather, my sister and I were waiting for the newly married couple to go on their honeymoon. Daddy Bill, as we grew to call him later, picked up their suitcases and prepared to walk out the door of my aunt’s house; instead, he walked into her kitchen pantry, shut the door behind him, and stayed there for what seemed to be an eternity! Of course, the hysterical hyena-style laughter of his new step daughters in the background might have contributed to what kept him in the food pantry.  Daddy Bill was nervous and overwhelmed and absolutely distracted, and he chose to stay in that food closet instead of facing what was outside it. I really can’t say I blamed him for that. We were merciless.

I need to eliminate distractions before I can write or I can’t concentrate and focus and be still. Yet some distractions we can eliminate and some we can’t.  So what do we do when we’re in a situation whose very nature tries to turn us from the direction God intends us to go? How do we deal with the reality of ongoing distractions as we pursue a godly life?

In the book of Hebrews, we find a scripture verse that gives us divine direction in the midst of all deadly distractions:   “Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).

As we “fix our eyes on Jesus,” we’ll stay focused on God’s truth. And that’s a weapon against any distraction that fights for our attention. That’s what helps us live life as God intended. And it’s a verse I’m taking with me today as I begin a season full of distractions, distractions which try to keep me from focusing on the greatest truth for this season: the birth of Jesus Christ.