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Devotional Making Disciples Memoir

Paying attention

Paying attention makes a difference. 

I think about this while watering the brown, straggly plant in our front yard. The one that missed automatic sprinkler showers.

My failure to notice is part of the issue. Properly caring for plants is not  my wheelhouse. 

In the tropics, where I was raised? Plants grew green year round. Rain fell in abundance. And planting seeds for science projects yielded quick results. Green shoots before the week was out. Sometimes overnight.

This sad-looking specimen tells another story. 

Paying attention. Image by Jonathan Kemper.
Categories
Devotional Making Disciples

Distracted

Keep your eyes on the prize. Focus. Don’t get distracted. 

“Just one thing: as citizens of heaven, live your life worthy
of the gospel of Christ.”
Philippians 1:27 

Traffic is heavy. Moving at 45 mph down a main road in the city. I glance over at the SUV in the lane next to us. 

The driver is holding his cell phone. In both hands. Texting. 

Distracted. 

He looks up once. Touches the wheel. Maintains speed. Then passes us. Still texting.

Distracted. Photo by Alexander Popov, Unsplash photos.

How quickly we buy in to the world’s version of what we should be doing. What we need now. What our message ought to be. Our eyes wander. Even in COVID-19 lockdowns, attention is scattered. Veers off course. 

And one day we’re “multi-tasking” down the road at 45 mph.   

Along the journey in His Word, I note those who get distracted. Identify with their struggle. Learn from their failure.