A journey I did not want
I wrote this morning about Christmas being a big distraction in my life right now, because I don’t seem to be thinking about the things I should be focusing on.
So today I was scheduled to drive up to Manchester to meet with a group of guys I fellowship with, but since I was feeling distracted, and because my car was acting up, I decided to sulk in my office and attempt to focus.
While sulking, and a bit of praying/whining to God, I felt like I should go to the meeting where “I probably wouldn’t have a good time, and would probably just feel bad for myself.”
I went.
One the way there, despite not wanting to drive an hour and a half to the meeting place, I had a great time of prayer, listening to some sweet music, and talking to my friend Clay, who gave me a great story about making decisions out of fear rather than faith.
Then I arrived in Manch, and had some great conversations from the pastor of this church,and my new friends, Josh and Ben, who are blowing the doors out of Next Level Church.
I left Manch inspired to get focused and to not allow distractions from sidetracking me away from what God wants me to do here in Central Mass.
Are you being distracted right now?
Related posts:
i’m very interested in hearing the story from Clay. Next post?
As i was reading i was thinking just how wonderful it would be again to have the choices you do. Being the father of 4 children, the question of “should i or shouldn’t i?” doesn’t come up nearly as often as “can i?”. The “should i?” too often is a question of abandonment and ensuing imprisonment.
i’m glad for you that you went. It will likely return blessings to more than you alone.
As far as distractions go: i’m always distracted. It’s as if there’s gated brain compartments that open and close as the focus of concentration shifts from one thing to another. My gates are like a faulty car thermostat that gets stuck open or closed capriciously; or a broken check-valve allowing backflow. i think – in part – my mouth runs excessively to keep me focused, or to vent the backflow.
Do other people analogize their brain function?
i’m struggling to help my children focus on the Christ in Christmas and in the everday. It’s an upsidedown life of squeezing Jesus into the cracks of our schedule. The good news is that we’ve downsized our t.v. viewing and computer time. Now to discipline the time we’ve freed up.
My first response is: what is Clays story?
My second thought is: I’m always distracted.
My third thought is: wow, Garrett and I actually have something in common!
For our family it’s been a slow progression from Christmas/Santa to the birthday of Jesus. It feels like they are two separate holidays – you know? Distractions from Jesus are every second of every day, our society isn’t set up for us to be in constant connection with Him…we just have to keep refocusing over and over again.