I've watched my children in their sporting activities and seen the focus and drive that is needed for each of them to do their part on the team. It didn't matter which sport that was being played. All sports involve more than one person. Yes, that even applies to golf! There are more than the kids who were involved in their playing. The parents and other spectators, the referee, the other team and their support people and probably most significant of all, God.
Who we are when watching our children can really take us out of character. We become hyper focused and overprotective of them and those who would like to stop them. Our cheering and jeering reach a high and we can feel the adrenalin and anger mixing with the joy and pride. Suddenly, we cross the line. We do or say something that is out of character and possibly offensive to those on the field or around us. We are never looked at the same again.
So, focus is important. What we do with that focus is important and necessary. I don't want a distracted dentist or surgeon working on me. I want them to have nothing in their minds except my welfare. I have been on the receiving end of unfocused care providers. The results weren't good. Focusing on only the good areas of our lives makes us unbalanced. We should try at least to focus on all areas of our lives. Focus without knowledge is dangerous. Focus without direction leads us up or down dangerous roads of life.
Being side tracked or distracted isn't focus. If we let ourselves be side tracked or distracted we find our lives to be out of focus. I don't want a mechanic working on my car after he is just chewed out by a previous customer. Nor do I want someone teaching my kids classes in school when they don't have my kids best interests at heart. The difference can be created by how focused we as individuals or parents are. There is a difference between being interested and being a participant.
Action is the element that makes the difference. Informed action after becoming aware of the issues makes the difference in how we interact with problems and challenges. We can assess where we are weak and where we are strong. It's difficult to be objective of ourselves. Hence the need for input from the outside. Whether that be a good friend, family member, or God we will need to be open to hear what they know and are able to share.
Where do we go for our guidance? What is the most important variable in our strategic plan? Input by the way of learning is important as is experience in what we do. Prior to that we need focus that is morally and ethically grounded. That focus comes only from our relationship with God and application of his Word. Without God we are wandering around on a planet without focus.
There are so many who are watching US as their role models. They are little children to aging adults. From our bosses to our co-workers we are observed and evaluated. The question that remains is the difficult part of this process. What is our primary focus? Is that found in Jesus Christ or something less? Do people see Jesus in me? If not, most likely my focus isn't Jesus.
Who we are is important. What we do is important. What we impart to our world is important. Our focus is important. When we fall off the bike we need to get back on. That goes for Christians who fail also. Don't let a mistake cancel out your focus. Be an example of someone who gets up, dusts themselves off and goes back to work. You won't regret it and neither will those around you. Everyone loves a winner. Be one.
No comments:
Post a Comment