What Distracts You From REALLY Living?
What “justified” distraction is keeping you from REALLY living?
I wish I could tell you that every morning starts out like it did today–kicked back with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee and one of the many books I’m reading. Yes, even working from home doesn’t mean I automatically take advantage of the early morning peace and quiet of our family room, AND the comfy over-sized chair. Nope! I’m usually right out of bed writing or answering emails, and working on the details of my latest project. But I’m happy to say this morning was different.
My book of choice today was, “Walking with God”, by John Eldredge. I’m about half-way through this book, and John is talking about how crazy his life has become. He primarily speaks of the fast pace he/we try and keep. He calls it, Purposeful Distraction. John explains it like this:
Every age has a certain spirit or mood to it. Ours is busyness. What begins as a creative outburst is now just Get It Done! Seriously, I’m irritated that my email takes four seconds to download when it used to take ten. For some reason we feel we can’t stop this pace or we just don’t want to. Till then, the life of not living but getting things done has its benefits. For one it provides us with an illusion of security – I am tackling life, I am staying on top of things. We might not be so honest as to say, ‘God doesn’t seem particularly involved in taking care of these things for me so I have to do it’. Then there is the wonderful quality of the endless distraction it provides – purposeful distraction. I don’t have to face myself or God because I am so very busy. And the bonus is, I don’t have to feel guilty because ‘this is just the way it is’, and by golly, at least I am showing that I’m a responsible person by getting things done. Thus I can avoid any real disruption while feeling the victim of circumstances beyond my control. Is this really ‘living’? If we really wanted to live differently, there would be some sign of it in our choices.
You know its funny – I’ve read stuff like this before. But what struck me this morning was the realization that what John is talking about in this segment never ends. It’s always in front of us no matter what day, month, year or decade we’re living in. Now, does this mean that we completely abandon our vocational responsibilities? Of course not. What it does mean is that we as individuals, and as families, have to first determine, “What does really living mean and what purposeful distraction has become our excuse?”
What do you think? I’d love to hear from you.
In our busy world, many speak of maintaining a proper “work life balance.” Of course, we should not forsake our responsibilities in order to achieve such a goal.
However, it does make sense to at least pause long enough evaluate where we are at relative to our relationship with God, family and other important relationships. In our daily activities and pursuits, it is crucial to:
“…seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Are we sometimes merely “spinning our wheels,” not really going anywhere, because we are not properly grounded? Are we so absorbed in our undertakings that we fail to notice we have not included…or perhaps don’t wish to incorporate, our Creator and His will into our “creations?”
Are we distracted to the point that we fail to hear His voice, tenderly wooing us to abide in Him so we might bear some eternal fruit?
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus declares:
“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the Word, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22
If God’s Word is chocked by our distractions, worries, pursuits of wealth, intensely creative endeavors–or as we empower anything to entangle us in its thorny clutches so as to numb our relationship with The Lord–we must change our course, for we are in danger.
The Master said:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Are we living life “more abundantly”? If not, our many distractions are likely “the thief” that has come “to steal, kill and destroy” our important relationships–our very lives.