Focus part 4
If you don't know where you're going--or where you want to go--its going to be hard to get there. If you're not focused on your goals, you're probably not going to achieve them. That's kind of what my memory verse for tonight says. "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established" (Proverbs 4:26). Or, in the Message Bible, "Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you." It kind of goes along with the underlying theme I've been grabbing at, about the Word (which is Jesus, which is love) being a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Its all about love. Looking at the love in any (and every) situation. Seeing that silver lining in even the darkest cloud. I don't think things happen randomly. I think things happen for a reason. Even the things that look "bad" are working together for good. They can teach us things. Help us to learn and grow. But I also think we can avoid a lot of pain and suffering by listening to that still, small voice deep inside. If we let love guide the way we WILL get to where we're supposed to go. And, real quick, I want to say that where we want to go isn't always necessarily where we're supposed to go. I've done things in my life that I thought were serving my goals, and then found out that what I thought I wanted paled in comparision to what I ended up getting. The journey is such a big part. And the destination is important, don't get me wrong, but sometimes we aren't even ready for what we want until we go through that journey. So we might as well enjoy the ride, while we're on the ride. Don't get so caught up in trying to move forward at warp speed that you forget to stop and smell the flowers. Don't get so caught up in trying to get something you think you haven't got that you miss out on experiencing and enjoying what you have got. I think when Jesus spoke about the thief and the robber who tries to enter the sheepfold any other way but through the door (which is Jesus, which is love) He was talking about US robbing ourselves. We have already been given everything we need. The journey is discovering what we've been given. We are already who we need to be. The journey is discovering who we really are. What's that old phrase? People are like teabags, you don't really know what they're made of until you put them in hot water. Its easy to say things that make you sound good. But when the rubber meets the road, that's when things get real. That's when what's inside (what you believe is inside) comes right out. We live from the inside out, whether we know it or not. Whether we realize it or not. What's inside (again, what you believe is inside) WILL come out. It's too big not to, whatever it is. So its important to focus. That's my point for today. Focus on what's really inside. Focus on the path that love sets out for you. Ponder the feet of your path. Watch your step. "Is this where I want to go? Is this serving my goals?" Don't get distracted by things that, in the grand scheme of things, really don't matter. Enjoy the journey, but make sure you're headed in the right direction. Make sure love is leading the way. Make sure you're following your heart. Focused on your goals. Focused... on love!