The Yellow Jacket of Distraction

I was at a stoplight today and a yellow jacket landed on the driver’s side mirror.  Before you panic, I had the window rolled up… and I’m not allergic, although I don’t like to be stung by those little things.  He wouldn’t fly away, and right as the light changed, he crawled from the top of the mirror to the back- shielded from the wind that would knock him off.

I thought nasty thoughts about him.  I used my Jedi mind control powers on him saying, “This is not the car you’re looking for.”  I thought about rigging a MacGuyver-esque contraption to crack the window and shoo him off.  I looked over every 1.3 seconds to see if he’d lost interest or gotten motion sickness and fallen off.  In essence, I did just about everything except pay attention to driving my car.

I know my life is like this sometimes almost all the time.  I have one little thing that gets me sidetracked and I take my eyes off the things that are really important.  Is this how God wants us to live our lives?  I don’t think so.  I think He wants us to be clearheaded and not prone to worrying about little things.  Jesus uses these kinds of words about worrying- “These things (worries) dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you what you need.” (Matthew 6:32-33 NLT)

Ouch.  I was so worried about that little yellow jacket that I’m not even allergic to…with my window rolled up, that I forgot to focus on a pretty major thing.  Like driving.  I became one of the crazies that I always fuss about on US 220.  Another topic for another time.

But really, we worry all the time and get so distracted by things that don’t matter.  As the writer of Hebrews states it in 12:1-2, we can run the race (a Christian life and walk with the Lord) not because of unneeded things, but because we keep our eyes on Christ.  We let Him matter more than the distractions.

So, to finish things up.  I got into the church parking lot, yellow jacket still hanging on for dear life.  I focused on parking the car and, you probably guessed it: the yellow jacket flew away.

Until next time!

Back In The Saddle

Oh man! What a… well, I was going to say “couple of weeks” but I think I’ve been away from the blogging scene for longer.  So… what an indeterminate time period!  A lot of stuff has happened, and at the same time (maybe not surprisingly) it hasn’t been that much different than before.  How vague and unhelpful this post is turning out to be so far.

I guess I can update my quasi- Lenten “vow”.  I cheated.  Yes, I stunk it up… don’t hate on me.  I know my smartphone was the thing that put the small chinks in the armor, the tiny cracks in the dam that let just a teeny bit of water escape leading to the crumbling.  It was so easy to check Facebook and Twitter with it right there in my pocket…. riiiight there.  With its little Android man, beaming up at me saying, “Not checking FB and Twitter.  Does not compute.  Need to post.  Need to check.  Human error.”  OK, I’m reaching.

We had some great things happening at Boones Mill Baptist on Palm Sunday and Easter.  The Palm Sunday morning services were led musically by the Ferrum College Vocal Ensemble.  Those ladies were jamming.  What a joy to host them and hear them use their talents and gifts.  That evening was the Easter musical, performed by the BMBC Choir and Drama Team.  I probably shouldn’t brag on it too much, since I played drums, but it went really well.  The children’s Resurrection Festival was a huge success as well.  Lots of fun!

The whirlwind continues, and I guess I’ve made my mind up about one life decision that’s worthy of putting down in writing (although a far cry from legally binding!)  I’ve decided not to take a summer class for my MATS degree.  It will mean pushing graduation to Spring of 2012, but it’s worth it to be there emotionally and mentally for my family and ministry.  I’ve had some times when I just felt like I was there but I wasn’t at the same time so, I’m taking the summer off from classes… in just two short weeks.  Who knows?  Maybe a little extra blogging/ writing time will come of it, too.

Until next time.

Blogging in My Mind

I was going to give this the title “Blogging in Spirit” but thought that it would lead someone to think that it was saying “In The Spirit”.  That would have been the case maybe if the Apostle John had a blog.  That would have brought a whole new dimension to the book of Revelation!  Just imagine if he was using his smartphone…

Well, before I get into some real trouble here, let me explain.  I use the phrase “blogging in my mind” because there’s a good chance in the next eight weeks that’s the only blogging that I’ll be doing.  I just read the syllabus (and other requirements) for my next LU seminary class and it will be tough.  I’m not going to say that it will be impossible to put up the occasional blog, but postaweek2011 is in trouble.  As Mackenzie’s new favorite show “Wonderpets” puts it: “This… is… si-wee-us!”

It is a serious class, too, and one that I need.  It is on Church Administration.  I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me, and I want to be ready for anything.  Whether it is doing a better job on the desk side of my Children’s and Youth ministry or if, at some point, to do that as a senior pastor, I want to give God my best.  That’s all for now.  

Until next week (Lord willing!)