Several years ago, a friend and I were chatting about people and their routines when she hit me with this: If you ever wonder whether you are a creature of habit, try moving the trashcan at your work desk. Having rearranged my office on several occasions throughout the years, I immediately knew I couldn’t refute her observation. Each time the can is moved, my trash may hit the floor a time or two. Move the phone, and I reach for the stapler to make a call. I am a creature of habit.
My dilemma in being such a creature is not as simple as having to retrieve that scrap of paper from the floor. The challenge is that my routine sometimes blinds me. Am I so focused on the way things “have always been” that I often miss the new and exciting? When I experience something unexpected, do I fail to see the potential right in front of me?
On the first Easter morning, Mary turned to leave the empty tomb and ran right into Jesus… “but she did not recognize him.” (John 20:14, NIV) How is that even possible? Mary and Jesus were friends; she received healing from him. She had been with him all along his journey toward the cross, and she stood near him as he died. She heard his promise to return, but as a creature of habit Mary wasn’t expecting anything new and exciting on this morning. She wanted the routine of preparing a lifeless body for eternal rest. Even a missing body didn’t move her to immediately think of resurrection. Her thoughts suspected grave robbing or government agendas. When Mary turned and ran into Jesus alive, her eyes were unfocused and she failed to see the potential right in front of her.
As I look around this new office of mine (formerly referred to as my dining room), the sights are so familiar that I wonder what I am missing. If I pause to refocus my attention, I begin to have new eyes. Three baptism plates hang on the wall in front of me. How long has it been since I stopped to remember the cleansing waters of blessing flowing over the heads of my three infants? Beside me is a trumpeting angel given to me by my husband when we visited the Crystal Cathedral. What a sweet time of praying together that was! In one corner is a pitcher and washbowl that has been in my family for generations. My grandmother’s china, my wedding crystal, pinecones, a metal cross, a nativity wreath made of driftwood – this room is an eclectic mess of memories and blessings. Outside the window are children on bicycles, blooming flowers, and so many fledglings yelling for mama that sometimes it’s hard to pay attention to my work. Yet, I sit here every single day focused on my computer tasks all while missing the fact that Jesus is right in front of me.
If I were to choose a color – just one color, maybe red – and look for the red within my sight, my eyes would find so many hues calling to me. (Go ahead and try it. Pick a color, any color.)
At the same time, if I were to choose to pray – just one prayer, maybe thanksgiving – and look for the wonder within my world, my heart would find so many blessings calling to me. Today I’m thankful that Jesus is never far away. When I don’t expect him, when I’m not looking for him, when I’m focused on something else, Jesus is always be found right in front of me.
I think I need to keep moving things around so I don’t become complacent in my holy living. Time to create some new habits.
Refocusing daily,
Pastor Beth
My dilemma in being such a creature is not as simple as having to retrieve that scrap of paper from the floor. The challenge is that my routine sometimes blinds me. Am I so focused on the way things “have always been” that I often miss the new and exciting? When I experience something unexpected, do I fail to see the potential right in front of me?
On the first Easter morning, Mary turned to leave the empty tomb and ran right into Jesus… “but she did not recognize him.” (John 20:14, NIV) How is that even possible? Mary and Jesus were friends; she received healing from him. She had been with him all along his journey toward the cross, and she stood near him as he died. She heard his promise to return, but as a creature of habit Mary wasn’t expecting anything new and exciting on this morning. She wanted the routine of preparing a lifeless body for eternal rest. Even a missing body didn’t move her to immediately think of resurrection. Her thoughts suspected grave robbing or government agendas. When Mary turned and ran into Jesus alive, her eyes were unfocused and she failed to see the potential right in front of her.
As I look around this new office of mine (formerly referred to as my dining room), the sights are so familiar that I wonder what I am missing. If I pause to refocus my attention, I begin to have new eyes. Three baptism plates hang on the wall in front of me. How long has it been since I stopped to remember the cleansing waters of blessing flowing over the heads of my three infants? Beside me is a trumpeting angel given to me by my husband when we visited the Crystal Cathedral. What a sweet time of praying together that was! In one corner is a pitcher and washbowl that has been in my family for generations. My grandmother’s china, my wedding crystal, pinecones, a metal cross, a nativity wreath made of driftwood – this room is an eclectic mess of memories and blessings. Outside the window are children on bicycles, blooming flowers, and so many fledglings yelling for mama that sometimes it’s hard to pay attention to my work. Yet, I sit here every single day focused on my computer tasks all while missing the fact that Jesus is right in front of me.
If I were to choose a color – just one color, maybe red – and look for the red within my sight, my eyes would find so many hues calling to me. (Go ahead and try it. Pick a color, any color.)
At the same time, if I were to choose to pray – just one prayer, maybe thanksgiving – and look for the wonder within my world, my heart would find so many blessings calling to me. Today I’m thankful that Jesus is never far away. When I don’t expect him, when I’m not looking for him, when I’m focused on something else, Jesus is always be found right in front of me.
I think I need to keep moving things around so I don’t become complacent in my holy living. Time to create some new habits.
Refocusing daily,
Pastor Beth