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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"A Lesson On Distracted Living"
September 15, 2010
When most people think of "distracted driving" they immediately conjure up
an image of someone talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. We all
know that there are inherent dangers in doing these things because they take
your mind off of what you are supposed to be doing. I'm pretty good about
avoiding those temptations but that doesn't mean I don't get distracted while
driving.
Yesterday I was driving on West Main Street. I had just left the Subway
restaurant and was heading back to the church. I was thinking about this
week's column. I was having a hard time coming up with something to
write about. Although it had been a good week, nothing extraordinary had
happened.
Traffic slowed as I passed the East Great Plains Firehouse and I stopped.
That's when I saw him. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a man
carrying four empty cases of Busch Beer into the Package Store. He was
struggling to keep them together and almost dropped them as someone in
front of him stopped.
I immediately began constructing all kinds of scenarios in my mind to
account for the number of empties he was bringing back. I thought to
myself, "How can I use this in my weekly epistle?" My mind started rolling.
Unfortunately, so did my car.
Before I could even think about what was happening my foot had come off
the brake and I was moving forward. There was a bang and suddenly the
man with the empty beer cans didn't seem quite as important as the situation
that had unfolded in front of me. I had been distracted for a moment. Now
I had to deal with the accident that resulted from my not paying attention to
what was happening in my life at the moment.
After the shock wore off, and the police officer left, I began to reflect on
the experience. It struck me that so many of us get so concerned about
what others are doing that we get distracted from paying attention to what
is happening in our own lives. We work ourselves up and start pointing
fingers at those around us. We notice all of their faults. It is at that moment
that sin and pride and even arrogance begin to undermine our Godly
character.
Jesus knew what he was talking about when he told us "to judge not, lest
ye be judged." He went on to tell a parable about a log and a speck. His
point was that we need to be careful not to get distracted by what others
are doing. We need to take care of our own business first. If only I had
remembered that yesterday afternoon, I would have saved myself a lot of
grief.
So don't get distracted by what you see others doing. Concentrate on your
own walk with the Lord and look for ways that you can be more faithful
and true. It will save you from a lot of heartache, and repair bills too.
God bless. See you in church. Cal.
September 15, 2010
When most people think of "distracted driving" they immediately conjure up
an image of someone talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. We all
know that there are inherent dangers in doing these things because they take
your mind off of what you are supposed to be doing. I'm pretty good about
avoiding those temptations but that doesn't mean I don't get distracted while
driving.
Yesterday I was driving on West Main Street. I had just left the Subway
restaurant and was heading back to the church. I was thinking about this
week's column. I was having a hard time coming up with something to
write about. Although it had been a good week, nothing extraordinary had
happened.
Traffic slowed as I passed the East Great Plains Firehouse and I stopped.
That's when I saw him. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a man
carrying four empty cases of Busch Beer into the Package Store. He was
struggling to keep them together and almost dropped them as someone in
front of him stopped.
I immediately began constructing all kinds of scenarios in my mind to
account for the number of empties he was bringing back. I thought to
myself, "How can I use this in my weekly epistle?" My mind started rolling.
Unfortunately, so did my car.
Before I could even think about what was happening my foot had come off
the brake and I was moving forward. There was a bang and suddenly the
man with the empty beer cans didn't seem quite as important as the situation
that had unfolded in front of me. I had been distracted for a moment. Now
I had to deal with the accident that resulted from my not paying attention to
what was happening in my life at the moment.
After the shock wore off, and the police officer left, I began to reflect on
the experience. It struck me that so many of us get so concerned about
what others are doing that we get distracted from paying attention to what
is happening in our own lives. We work ourselves up and start pointing
fingers at those around us. We notice all of their faults. It is at that moment
that sin and pride and even arrogance begin to undermine our Godly
character.
Jesus knew what he was talking about when he told us "to judge not, lest
ye be judged." He went on to tell a parable about a log and a speck. His
point was that we need to be careful not to get distracted by what others
are doing. We need to take care of our own business first. If only I had
remembered that yesterday afternoon, I would have saved myself a lot of
grief.
So don't get distracted by what you see others doing. Concentrate on your
own walk with the Lord and look for ways that you can be more faithful
and true. It will save you from a lot of heartache, and repair bills too.
God bless. See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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