Distracted From Distractions
Are we a people, "distracted from distractions?"
I like the little booklet, "Tyranny of the Urgent," written by Charles E. Hummel. He cries out for a thirty-hour day, confident that people work harder and quite possibly enjoy life less.
Hard work doesn't hurt anyone. In fact, many of us thrive at a hard task. Mr. Hummel continues by explaining that the problem lies not in the task but in the prioritization of our tasks. The urgent task needs to be done now, yet often the important task can wait. Thus becomes the tyranny of the urgent. The part of his booklet that always makes me smile is the date it was first penned, 1967.
Fast forward to 2023 how are we doing with the hurry in our lives?
(Parts taken from the book "Hurry")
"We, for every kind of reason, good and bad, are distracting ourselves into spiritual oblivion.
It is not that we have anything against God it is just that we are habitually too preoccupied to have the need for growing in Christ to show up on our radar screens. We are more busy than bad, more distracted than nonspiritual, and more interested in other things."
The book continues," For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it."
For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version
of it.
Do you see what's at stake here? We move so fast through life that we're stressed out, on edge, quick to snap at our family. Could it be that an over busy, digitally distracted life of speed quite possibly is the greatest threat spiritually to our modern world?
Luke 10:38-42 reminds us how easily we can become distracted.
"As Jesus and his disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."
"But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! there is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."
These verses are a good reminder of what distractions and worry can do if we allow hurry to choke out our ability to distinguish between the urgent and important.
Take some time this week to simply sit at the feet of our Savior.
Read HIs word. Seek Him and it will be well with your soul.
Until next time, Pam
