What are you looking at?

Today's random thought is rather short...what are you looking at? A simple truth I try and get my students to realize is that whatever you focus on, that's the direction you will go.

Try this experiment. Try to walk in a straight line while looking at something other than where you want to end up. We tend to veer off toward whatever we are focusing on. I may say I am moving toward my goal, but if my gaze is fixed on another point, I'll find that my feet will follow.

When I run, I find I can move faster and more productively if I will focus on a "point" in front of me. At times, I even "cheat" and use a huge rubber band that pulls me toward that point and my focus pulls me forward. I shut out all distractions because distractions can slow me down, even pull me off course.

So once again, today's thought is "what are you looking at?" If my focus is on my problems, that is where I will run...toward the problem. If my focus is on the things of this world, I'll run toward those things. If my focus is on myself....I guess I'll be running in place.

The Message translation of Phillipians 3: 12 - 14 says: "I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back."

What are you looking at today?