Be Where You Are

This week has been rather full for me. I'm beginning to feel the weight of assignments, ministry responsibilities, conflicts that need resolving, people that I need to catch up with, etc. Surely you have experienced those same seasons of life. Maybe you are even in one right now. It's difficult to focus on any one thing, much less multi-task, with the million things swirling around in your head. This reminded me a bit of this picture of Luke Skywalker (click to embigify it), trying to block out everything and focus on the task at hand. Now, I don't have a whole rebel resistance relying on me to take out the base of the enemy, but I do have my fair share of things that grab my attention.

The difficult part in the midst of the storm, or maybe tornado, of things trying to get your attention is fully engaging in whatever setting you happen to be in. If you're like me, it is hard to shift from "work" thoughts to "family" thoughts right when you walk in the door. Granted, cute little girls shouting "Daddy!" does help, but it still takes a moment of transition. Yet, that is what we are all called to do. When I'm leading choir practice I can't bring in the burdens of a conflict. When I'm enjoying family time I shouldn't be sorting out how my next paper should look for seminary. When I'm sitting in class I shouldn't be planning the next month's worship services. I need to be where I'm at. Now, this isn't always possible. Sometimes things have to overlap, and I appreciate a very gracious wife who allows me to bring work home from time to time. I know that graciousness will continue if I make those times the exception rather than the rule in my behavior.

The greatest example I can think of doing this is Christ Himself. We never have a recorded instance of Christ focusing on something other than the task at hand. When he was teaching His disciples, he focused on them. When he was eating with sinners or rebuking the Pharisees, he focused on them. He didn't ever say, "Sorry guys, I'm just really distracted right now with being omniscient." Praise the Father that He is like that as well, able to focus on each individual to the point of knowing the number of hairs on our head.

As this time of year gets busier and busier, all culminating in the celebration of the birth of our Savior, lets focus on what's in front of us. Managing all our "stuff" in an organized way will help, as will lifting up these things in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). As we rely on the Lord to guard our hearts and minds, let's be where we are, wherever that may be, and enjoy the path God has laid before us rather than getting bogged down by it.