Are we in focus?

"Your problems amplify when you focus on things you want.
Yet they seem to vanish when you focus on others' needs." 

There is a trail on Turkey Mountain that I would bike when I lived in Tulsa. At one point in the trail there are two trees that are separated just enough to fit my bike through, leaving an inch or so on either side of the handlebars. With the fear that I might hit one or the other trees, I put all my attention on not hitting them. As a result I hit a tree. When I went through focusing on the path, I made it through without skimming the trees. The difference between making it through cleanly or skimming/hitting the tree, wasn't being aware of the obstacle; but where my focus was. 

Likewise, we aren't necessarily supposed to be ignorant of wrongful things, but focus on the path that is set before us. If we are not aware of unjustness in this world, we would not develop solutions. Now, if we are fixated on what is wrong, rather than on a solution - nothing would happen.

Let unjustness fuel us to make it right. Let obstacles drive us to focus what needs to be done.

The obstacle of the thin path is making the course more difficult to complete. Let it not hinder us from continuing, rather that we might use it to sharpen our focus on where we need to go.

Fear of doing evil is or could be the reason we focus on evil. Giving it more power than it should have. It can make us go left or right, stop or go backwards - when there is a straight path for us going forward. It so easily can slow down the plans and desires of our hearts. We can't allow fear to be a deciding factor of where we go in life.  

As Christians we are not called to be indifferent. Which is doing neither good nor bad. If we concentrate on not doing wrong, instead of fixing our minds on doing right, we may quickly become exactly that, indifferent. 

I like what Paul wrote to the church of Philippi, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." 

How much better would our lives be if we did fill our thoughts with these things? 

Imagine having joy if we only focused on what was wrong in our lives, or love when we only looked how that person should be. 

It can be so easy to view the evils of this world, and put our main priority on not doing them. A person who is indifferent is not bringing heavenly things to earth nor causing any harm. We are called to do good tho. Being a light in the darkness and salt to the earth; being love and hope to others in this unjust world. 

Let our desires determine where our focus is. Rather than chasing little things here and there.

I want to fill my life with positive things. I want to center my life on doing right when it might not be the "popular thing". I want my thoughts, my words and my actions to be aimed at making this world a better place for everyone.