Distractions! Are They Worth It?

Distractions have numerous consequences and some of them could be deadly. For example, when I was young, I was an avid reader and would simultaneously read books while walking home from school.

One day, I took a shortcut with no regards to my surroundings due to being engrossed in reading. Suddenly! I stopped in my track bumping into two men standing directly in front of me. I looked up and one of them grabbed my arm leaving me too shock to move, to scream or run.

Have you ever been in such terrifying situations? I could not help but think of their evil intentions for me. Praise the Lord before anything happened, an elderly, gray-bearded man carrying a long brown fishing pole appeared yelling at the men. He said “Get! Get! Don’t you hurt that girl!” I will never forget this man’s action. They ran one way, and I ran home so fast in the opposite direction it seems as though my front door was two steps in front of me. Why did I not see these men? Distracted!

Imagine it is 5:00 a.m., on a Monday morning and you awake just to snooze the alarm clock. You wonder where the weekend went while turning over and covering your head with a pillow despite knowing you had already laid down too long. Finally, the adrenaline kicks in and you jump out of bed knowing you cannot be late for your important office meeting. So, you rush to get dress and almost made it to work in twenty-five minutes instead of forty-five.

The adrenaline is still high when you pull out of your driveway and finally on the highway exceeding the speed limit. You accelerate and continue swerving from lane to lane without considering the safety of yourself and others. Finally, without incident, you arrive approximately five minutes from the office. What! Red Light! You are surprised because this light has always been green, but you realize you were off your normal driving schedule. You decide to read your text messages until the light changes.

Suddenly! You look up to see the woman you just hit lying on the street. You are bewildered! A witness calls the police and an ambulance. You remain in your car with all kinds of thoughts charging your mind. In a New York minute you are suddenly enmeshed.” Distractions! You just cost someone her life because you were so engrossed in reading your text messages you were unaware your foot relaxed off the brakes.

Smartphones have made it easy for us to stay connected at all times but pose serious safety risks if someone decides to check text messages, emails or place a call while driving. Hopefully we make the right decision to turn on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature while driving.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I fell victim to the clarion call of distractions on many occasions–especially with the current state of our nations. We must limit distractions and stumbling blocks on our spiritual journey and focus on the God who is focus on us!

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with suffering, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as snare shall it come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34-36)