Distraction Depot
It’s easy to get distracted and forget the original goal. This happens to me quite often! A few Saturdays ago, I headed off to Home Depot to restock my supply of clear lawn bags. After a fall of foliage removal, I’d gone through a whole box! There were a few other items I needed for my weekend warrior punch list, and since I was making a trip, why not make it count? I knew what I needed, but then I entered the store.
The older I get, the more I like Home Depot. My dad must be rubbing off on me! They have every tool and supply imaginable to “get the job done.” Often, I don’t even know a job needs to be done until I see the potential in a new shiny tool. Then I start to think of all the things that I “could do” if only I had the new tool.
I made my way through the store picking up items I needed, a few that I just wanted, and checked items off my mental list. It was a grand time, leisurely making my way through the store. As I headed for the checkout counter, I had a nagging suspicion that I was forgetting something. I started to consider the items in my cart. There were masonry screws, air filters, and replacement bulbs. I even shuffled around the few items I discovered along the way. But something was missing, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I walked a few aisles in a frustrating state, hoping that something would spark my memory.
You probably know the missing item. Yes, you guessed it, the lawn bags that originated the trip. I can’t remember what jogged my mind, but when I finally remembered the lawn bags, I found myself chuckling. Life can be like a stroll through Home Depot, full of distractions that take our attention away from the original goal.
There is a significant benefit in setting goals and approaching the year with a direction in mind. Without a goal or vision, we tend to fall victim to the desires of the moment. Life is conducive to generating excuses. The weather turns cold, the football game seems appealing, and the snooze button is magnetic. Have you ever noticed how big the snooze button is! Like me, you’ve probably experienced the struggle of distraction when it comes to staying focused on a goal. The power tools of life are shiny and attractive, but the lawn bags do eventually come back into focus!
Proverbs gives us important life principles that come from embracing God’s wisdom. Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.” Financial goals are important, but this principle applies to all areas of life. Taking the time to define where we want to go and staying focused on the goal are major factors in accomplishing anything of significance. We always move forward with our hands open before God, but we honor God and steward our lives well when we have vision and aim for the goal.
Where is God leading you this year? Where do you want to be in the key areas of your life when the year ends? A lot can happen in a year! Distractions will come, but they don’t have to derail us. Perfection is unachievable, but God can do a lot through consistency.
The next time I go to Home Depot, I will write down my list. But I can’t guarantee that it will keep me off the lawn equipment or power tool aisle!