Braeden’s 5th grade team is also in red.

Sept. 16, 2013

Proverbs 4:25-26

Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do what is right.

What would fall in American be without football? Last Saturday, Rick and I watched two football games in which our two oldest grandsons played. Bryce is in 4^th grade. His game was an intramural game with 11 kinds on a team. The coaches rotated the kids through various positions the entire game.

Then, we watched Braeden’s game. In 5^th grade, his team played a team from another school. Braeden’s team had 22 players, enough for two 11 player sections. In the first half, Braeden’s section played defense and the other 11 kids played offense. They switched at half-time.

Braeden’s team played with a little more skill and precision, but not without error. Penalties and fouls were pointed out but yards were not lost. While playing defense end, the boy blocking Braeden simply wrapped his arms around his waist and held/hugged him. One coach told Braeden how to legally get loose and not give up. But it was hard to get out of the hold.

Sometimes we get wrapped up in things that get in our way. Nearly every day, I begin with a “to-do” list. Most days I would need 30 hours day to get everything done. By mid-day, I am often distracted and doing things not on the list. At day’s end, I sometimes feel defeated because I did not accomplish more. It happened again tonight!

Sometimes, the distractions are more important than anything on the to-do list. But I also let distractions be an excuse for not doing something I’m unexcited about doing. Life is not simply a to-do list. Jesus began every day with a detailed to-do list. He let himself be guided by the Spirit. But he clearly knew what was most important: daily spending time with his Father; developing strong relationships with those closest to him; making time for people on the fringes of society.

As Rick’s son, Darran, was picking up the youngest two kids from me late this afternoon, he said the last several days had been filled with endless delays. We can get frustrated and overwhelmed by things out of our control. Or we can seem them as opportunities to capture something we otherwise would have missed. Distractions and delays can annoy us … or they can be the Spirit teaching us. Which option do you focus on? May we be encouraged to do what is right, even if it wasn’t part of our original plan.

Lord God – why do we sometimes lack patience? Why do we get wrapped up in not doing the right things? I pray that daily, we will seek our guidance in our lives so we can look straight ahead and see what is right. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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