Oh, Excuse me!

 

By: Paula Short

Picture it— Not Sicily 1929. But Walmart June 2023. I had been shopping with my BFFiC (Best Friend in Christ) Kim. We finished shopping and headed for the checkout line. I was following behind her, just kind of zoning out. Okay, I must tell you, I wasn't paying attention at all. 

Suddenly I was startled by someone beside me; I jumped and was about to say, "Oh, excuse me." Then I began laughing at myself and asked Kim to pull aside to tell her— About my startlement at— A pink dress hanging on a display [insert laughter here]. 

I thought to myself— there's got to be a lesson here. And I think there is. It got me thinking about paying attention, so I did a bit of looking around and reading. Here's what I came up with. 

As human beings, we tend to get easily distracted by the things around us. With the increasing number of distractions in our current world, paying attention to the things that matter most is becoming more complicated. But what does Scripture have to say about paying attention?

One of the verses that speak to this issue is Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT), which says, "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil."

This passage tells us that we need to be intentional about where we look and what we focus on. We need to be aware of our path and ensure we're not being led astray by the things around us.

Another verse that addresses this issue is found in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV), which says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

This passage reminds us that we must throw off anything hindering us from running our race and fixing our eyes on Jesus. We need to focus on Him and not allow ourselves to be distracted by the things of this world.

In Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV), Jesus says, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

This passage reminds us that what we focus on affects our whole being. If we focus on things that are unhealthy or ungodly, it will affect our entire being. But if we focus on things that are good and pleasing to God, we will be filled with light.

Let's Reflect

In conclusion, paying attention is crucial to our walk with God. We need to be intentional about where we look and what we focus on. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not allow ourselves to be distracted by the things of this world. Let us strive to be like the psalmist in Psalm 119:15, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways."

Please enjoy this Video Of Jeremy Camp's Keep Me In The Moment.