Focus

In the last two weeks, I've had three things that have happened to me that I think are a warning to stay more focused. I got up quickly from my chair and twisted my ankle; I was daydreaming and got a speeding ticket; I didn't see a car pulling out of a parking lot and I got into a fender bender. I felt a little knocked off kilter--like a piece of clay that isn't centered on a potter's wheel. Instead of turning smoothly in the potter's hands it goes...thump, thump, thump.
As Christians we are to be clay in the Master's hands, but sometimes we're a little lumpy. Sometimes we have hard areas He needs to work out of us, and other times we're just looking all around us, not staying on the potter's wheel, and not focused on what God is trying to form--like a beautiful vase or bowl. It's so easy in this culture to get distracted--by both good and bad things. The summer has been great, but I think I've been a little distracted from my focus on the Lord, a little more time having fun and a little less time praying.
Though I won't let negative thinking and self-doubt ruin the beauty of summer and God's blessings, I also think there's a little warning wrapped up in my "accidents." There's nothing wrong with enjoying life, but there's a point when our focus can shift to that, instead of pursuing God. I like to think that these little incidents are God's gentle way of reminding me to stay on track, stay focused. Like the apostle Paul, I want to attain to the prize and the upward call of Christ. In order to do that I'll need to keep my eyes on Him.