Stay Focused!

 Stay focused! I was in New York City last week and the above photo was taken by my cool phone! J A closer look reveals that there are a number of things happening all at once. People moving, lights flashing, advertisements galore, etc. virtually every inch of occupied space is being utilized. In a place like that it’s hard to focus on one thing, when literally everything is shouting “Hey you look over here!”  It’s hard to ignore anything and impossible to see everything. But yet I was able to navigate my way to my intended destination (the candy store! Lol) In order to navigate anywhere you must first know where you want to go! You must first formulate in your mind and then be willing to negotiate the terms that will allow you get there. In this case, I knew where I wanted to go and if I was going to be successful I had to be willing to go around, through, and even over whatever obstacles or distractions that placed themselves in my range of vision. In other words I had to first focus on one intended goal, look around and see how to get there, and then be brave enough to start out in that direction.

As leaders, there are often many obstacles and other attention-getting factors that place themselves in our range of vision. And while we try to address each factor before us, it becomes increasingly difficult without focus, to navigate around, through, and over them in order to arrive at the proper destination. Take for example a disgruntled, church member, family member, co-worker, etc. Often times you will be bombarded with their issue of the day or hour, and at the same time have other issues or even your own issues to deal and contend with! Here is where focus comes in to play. A leader (or anyone) who is unable to focus his/her attention on what is needful or where they are trying to go will also be found lacking. Jesus at a most critical time during his passion was heard to admonish his three apostles to stay awake and be watchful or they would fall into temptation. (Matthew 26) He told them what their goal was (resist the temptation of the devil) and also how to navigate around it (staying focused/alert). In dealing with the disgruntled “whomever”, it is imperative that you keep your focus on the intended destination, which is a helpful and peaceful resolution. There may be other sights and sounds that seek to gain your attention often coming from the individual, but a focused eye/mind is Key lest you get pulled in an all together direction (debating, taking a defensive posture, blaming, etc). For example, pain, hurt, and frustration can cause someone to act out in a seemingly threatening or unhealthy way.  When you, with wisdom and focus, are confronted with sour behaviors and seemingly trite dispositions, you are able to ignore the negative and strive for the positive. Being focused does not necessarily mean having tunnel vision, but it means having a wide-enough peripheral that you are able to negotiate the proper move at the proper time. (1 Corinthians 16:13) You may see all those sights and sounds, but they don’t affect you because you know your intended destination!

While on my way to the candy store (Hershey’s) J , I passed a number of distracting people, places, and things … but I knew what I wanted, knew where it was, and successfully navigated my way there and back … a choice I made! Stay focused … it is a choice!

Phil 3:13 “No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead …” NLT

You’re CLUEd!