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Distractions

Distractions

Last updated on: November 25, 2015 at 3:00 am by Terry Drew Karanen

Distractions 2015-11-22T20:41:14-07:00 Terry Drew Karanen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Are you easily distracted? I am if I’m not holding an almost constant vigilance with my purpose. I suppose it might have something to do with that ADHD thing.

So, yeah, some guys in white coats feel I have this inability to effectively give my attention to what’s in front of me. My family might agree. No, my family DOES agree.

I don’t. We can’t allow a diagnosis or opinion to be a reason to think less of ourselves or make it a defining point in our lives. For example, I’m tall, six foot two inches – that’s 1.88m for my non-American readers. I could say, “OH NO! I’m too tall to go up in the attic! I can’t get into a small car. Oh poor me!” Instead it means I have to duck … a lot. Yeah, I hit my head – repeatedly, since apparently I’m not always the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree – but not as often if I remember where I am and what I’m doing.

Even this blog is an example of my ability to be distracted if I don’t stay in control of my direction. However, I’m not going to scrap the whole first point just because I got sidetracked. Why? Because if I’m thinking about this stuff then others may be, too, and it just might be helpful.

So what WAS my blog supposed to be about? Here it is:

Allowing ISIS to distract us from life.

(I know – quantum jump – get used to it. My family just learns to deal with it, that is when they aren’t too tired, in which case someone just slaps me.)

The threat of terrorism and the reality of hundreds of thousands of refugees is nothing to ignore. But it is not a reason to become distracted from other challenges, both domestically and internationally, that deserve our attention. In other words, we can’t let our lives fall apart worrying about the problems in the world or down the block.

The recent terror attacks reported in the news in France and Mali have shifted the focus in the news, as well as in the current political races here in the States. How sad that politicians and would-be-presidents are doing little if nothing for the plight of those affected, but using the events and issues as marketing tools to downgrade their opponents with the hope of winning an election or fuel Islamophobia for their own designs.

We have a choice, but it’s not easy. Like most Truth principles, the course is simple – put one foot in the front of the other and carry on – but it’s far from easy to do that for most of us. We are charged with the duty to see through the media frenzy and political posturing. We turn away not from those whom we can assist, but we do “turn the other cheek,” as Jesus the great teacher said, and look in the direction of solutions.

Each day is another opportunity to remain vigilant with our spirit, mind and body to help create a life worth living in a world dedicated to cooperation and compassion. What we do matters. We may not see it, but any act of kindness we can perform on a personal and local level is one more building block put into place for a new foundation of planetary peace.

Will we run in fear as the media and politicians would have us do? Will we point our fingers at people and issues we don’t like nor understand? Or, will we take action and make a difference?

The choice is ours. Choose wisely.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

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