Staying focused
Tuesday afternoon I was in my office developing a new course – British Literature. I was very happily engrossed in my research when I began to see lines of light limned in black out of the side of my left eye. I didn’t think much of it and continued to work. Hours later the lights were still flashing occasionally.
The next morning it seemed to be worse, and I recalled a conversation I had with the dean of allied health at my college. She had a detached retina and had to have immediate surgery. When I looked at Web MD for my symptoms, I feared the worst. Praying and breathing slowly, I made an appointment with my eye doctor and was seen in an hour.
My retina is fine – thank you Lord. I do have what are called “floaters.” I’m guessing that many of you reading
this post also have floaters, as they are quite common. They appear as either black spots or flashes of light in one’s line of vision. They are distracting, but in themselves are not painful or harmful.
In our daily lives there are things we see that distract us, that cause us to lose our focus on Jesus and living for Him. These distractions are different for all of us, and even differ for anyone from day to day. What distracts you from keeping your focus on living for Jesus? Is it a link to a website that will not be helpful or edifying, or an ad for a product, a fattening dessert (!), a person who sparks jealousy, or desire? We are bombarded with visual images daily, and many of them are distracting, just like the floaters that momentarily obscure our vision. To stay focused we simply — though it’s often not simple — need to ignore these distractions, these floaters. We need to stay focused. Reading His Word is the best way; reading devotionals like the ones found here is also uplifting and encouraging. Let us encourage each other to
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
amen
Yes, there are so many distractions in life (and those floaters in the eyes are annoying). It is sometimes hard to stay focused, but staying close to Him and His word can help to keep us focused.
My late mother-in-law had floaters in her eyes. Very frustrating. I wish I had shared your wisdom with her! Bringing a valuable perspective to a difficult situation.