Distracted from Beauty

Do you see the beauty through the weeds?

Yesterday while I was outside cutting fresh flowers to make a bouquet to bring inside to enjoy, I really started thinking about all the distractions we face on the daily. You see, my intention while walking through the front door with scissors in hand, was to cut and gather the beautiful flowers from my yard. The truth was that I was easily distracted by all the overgrowth and prolific weeds that have grown abundantly while I have been away. Although our intention in life can be to set out to accomplish something good, it doesn't take much to get distracted in this lifetime.

At this point, I had gathered a few beautiful flowers in one hand, and with the other I began pulling weeds from the tough ground. The weeds had grabbed my attention. My desire was to rid the yard, break it down; the area, the spot, of just one weed. However, I had to force myself to stop. The truth is that there are far more weeds in my yard than flowers. And there are a lot of flowers ya'll. Another truth is that most people don't see the weeds. In actuality, I didn't really notice the weeds until I was outside walking through the yard.

How easily I was distracted and allowed my focus to fall on the things that I don't want in my life. I took my eyes off the prize. My intention was to gather a beautiful bouquet of flowers to enjoy. The truth is that I spent three times as long pulling the weeds during the process.

Spending time in the heat robbed my body of energy. I was not able to go to lunch with my college roommate who was in town, and had reached out the night before to get together. The truth is that after my appointment I was so tired I didn't know if I could make it home. My eyes were so heavy and sleep had consumed them. My body couldn't wait to lie down in bed.

While trying to gather beauty and bring it inside my home to enjoy, I had depleted my body by living distracted. I had no more to give to my day or anyone else. The flowers are beautiful, but it would have been nice to share them with my roommate.

It is a choice that we must make to focus on the good in every single day that we are blessed with in this lifetime. We must choose to focus on the things which can and will be enjoyed with others. This is where in lies the joys of life, sharing with loved ones. Spending quality time with others brings beauty and joy, into our lives, with opportunities for laughter, love, and connection.

Make sure not to get distracted today with the unwanted and undesired aspects of the day. They will always creep up. Don't let your focus be drawn to the weeds, and allow them to rob you of the joys and goodness that God longs to give you.

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4