Opinion

Driven to distraction

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Danny had to run to the store the other day. But before he could go there, he needed to stop at the bank. Imagine his dismay as he made his way across the store parking lot and realized he had forgotten to stop at the bank. Drat. Back he went, retracing his route. He returned to the store, made his selections, only to discover at the checkout line that he had left his envelope from the bank in the truck. Apparently, he was distracted. He had purpose and a plan, both of which were delayed by some inner distraction.

It happens to me all the time. At home, at work, at the store, it scarcely matters. I'll get three-fourths of the way to wherever I am going when not only my purpose but the destination itself disappears like thin fog on a summer morning. My co-workers don't even look up anymore when I stand, suddenly immobilized, saying, "Now, just where did I think I was going?" Something has distracted me, again.

There is plenty to distract us these days. Compelling images on the nightly news hold us captive. Breaking news from Iraq, our own borders, and all points in between, more often than not elicit verbal responses when it appears that common sense has flown out the window, handily replaced by more hot air day by day. (Mayhap that is the source of global warming, eh?

Mayhap it has nothing to do with fossil fuels, but everything to do with fossil fools.)

If we find the nightly news too disturbing, we can always seek a different distraction watching "American Idol." It certainly distracts a goodly number of my co-workers as they celebrate or bemoan the fate of their personal favorite of the week. If that show doesn't suit, there are half a dozen others of that ilk from which to choose.

Others seek distractions elsewhere. According to some studies, online pornography is a billion dollar enterprise, enticing those who would never deign to walk down shoddy back alleys to view illicit images into spending hours on end with their eyes on the screen and their hands hovering over the mouse. The distraction that comes from the consumption of alcohol has ruined countless good souls for countless generations. Distractions are as varied as the people being distracted.

Ben called the other day, a welcome distraction from household chores. I touted our new Web site streaming video feature and he said, "Oh, Mom, I'm not online anymore. My computer is sick."

He didn't seem upset by his virus-laden machine, adding, "Life is so much better without my cell and the Internet." He was so technically inclined, I was surprised, but pleased. He has found simpler to be better. Being disconnected has allowed him more opportunity to connect with his two young daughters, who are flying through childhood on a supersonic jet.

Perhaps his state of disconnectedness will also allow him enough quiet time to reconnect with the faith of his own childhood. It's hard for any of us to hear the Shepherd's voice with so many other voices competing for our attention.

But we need to hear that voice now more than ever. Those same nightly images of famine, wars and tragedy remind us of our brokenness, remind us that this is not the way we were meant to live. We were created for a different reality and there is a better way, an unbroken path, that leads to wholeness -- body, mind and spirit. Finding it requires diligence and determination, before yet another distraction takes us away, stealing precious, precious time. This life is finite. It has an end. Don't let it end without meeting the one who has overcome the world and gone ahead to prepare a place for you, so that where he is, there you also may be, where there will be no distraction, nor any need of one.

"The night is nearly over, the Day is almost here." Romans 13:12 (NIV)

Things you won't see in heaven:

Little brown paper bags

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