Distractions

“As someone said, you will never get to the end of your journey if you stop to shy a stone at every dog that barks” - Winston Churchill

I have preached and spoken a number of times on the story of Mary and Martha.

Martha was the responsible sister – doing what was necessary and expected to provide proper hospitality to their guest while Mary just sat there listening to Jesus. But Jesus called out Martha for being too distracted to spend time with Him.

A little over a year ago, I had the privilege of having a prayer with a friend prior to surgery. After he had been taken back for his procedure, I sat with his wife in the waiting room. I always try my best to gauge how I can be helpful. Often, less is more – simply being a silent presence is what is needed. However, in this situation, she seemed to be comforted by conversation. I don’t really remember exactly what we discussed – we kept it light. I do remember that several times we laughed. At some point, I offered a few more words of comfort and encouragement.

As I stood up to leave, she said, “thank you for distracting me.”

It was in that moment when I realized that while distractions can be a hindrance, they can also be holy.

Distractions are a hindrance when we allow them to get us off track.

Distractions can be a blessing when they take our mind off of the chaos around us.

Throughout the pandemic, and particularly during the contentious election season, I have found myself moving between needing to avoid distractions so that I can stay focused and seeking pleasant distractions so that I can clear my mind.

In the quote that Churchill recalls, he is describing the distractions that come from those who attack us along the way. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my natural instinct when attacked is to swing back but, fortunately, I have learned to respond rather than react. To diffuse rather than to escalate. I have also learned to use humor as a holy distraction when a conversation starts to go off of the rails.