Staying Focused

The hustle and chaos of the emergency department - telephone calls, ambulance reports, laboratory tests and nurse's requests - could, at times, divert my attention from the critical to the less important. When attending to details in the emergency room, my greatest fear was missing a life-threatening need elsewhere in the department. Disciplined focus was a key ingredient to success as an emergency physician.

Our days are often filled with details or difficult circumstances that keep us from focusing on the most important task. Known as the tyranny-of-the-urgent, our focus is blurred. The "urgent" wins out over the "priority".

The children of Israel, on the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, often lost their focus. Repeatedly, as they faced the "urgent", they forgot the "priority". Troubling circumstances took precedence, blurring their focus on God. The reality of His presence, His past goodness and His future promises were lost. (Exodus 32)

Maybe you like me are in the midst of another of life's storms - giving us ample opportunity to lose focus. The author of Hebrews encourages us saying,

". . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us 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 12:1-2 NIV)

My faith often seems so weak and the difficulties so large. When I focus on my weak faith or the circumstances, life is hard. Join me in focusing on Jesus.

Sharing the journey with you,