Distracted to Destruction

I lost my sister to a distracted driver. There are a lot of facts, suppositions, and many questions about the treatment of this case. Drugs? Speeding? Being in a vehicle that the driver was excluded from driving? In some states, a new view of driving is to claim a distraction created the problem. You can do more damage and be excused, all due to your distraction. The driver was speeding down what we surmise was a familiar road. The phone was creating a distraction. A few seconds too late to react to the stop sign, and we pay the consequences of another’s actions. It all piled up to destruction. By distractions. Too late. My sister is gone. Instantly.

September 23, 2019.
This date is now a permanent entry on my Google Calendar.
As if I need an annual reminder.
I remember this date every day.

Not only did the distraction take my sister, but it has strongly affected everyone who ever knew her. Sadness. Disbelief. Anger. Frustration. Questioning why, oh, why.

If there is any bright lining to the dark lingering clouds, perhaps we can take this to the bank and invest in the premise:

Don’t Drive Distracted!

I left September 2019 determined not to be a distracted driver.

Do you know how difficult this is? It’s not just our mobile devices, but eating, drinking, talking, or trying to find something you dropped on the floorboards, looking for sunglasses, yanking the visor to a better position, and paying too much attention to something on the side of the road. Daydreams. Even when you are too tired to be on the road!

Distracted! Watch out! Destruction!

I’ve been content to pull over and take a power nap for years, but I struggle with doing the same if the phone becomes a distraction. Our mobile devices have become an ever-present extension of our person. Maps. Directions. Warnings. News. Entertainment. Traffic reports. We use our phones for everything. Distracted!

The state I live in has more stringent rules revolving around minimizing distractions that lead to accidents. It’s illegal to have a loose pet in the car! Or looking down at your phone even when traffic stops. Any use of the mobile phone must be a hands-free event! One lawmaker says we are not even to “touch that phone!” And then, they want to make sure it’s not mounted in a way to obstruct the driver’s view outside any window.

This brings me to a point.

We Live Distracted

We are distracted from our purpose, goal, and plan on every front. Relationships suffer. Our finances take a hit. We even lose jobs because we are not focused on the essential things to keep our careers moving forward. Distractions create a mistake-rich environment! Food spoils or gets cooked too long. Alarm clocks are hit to a constant snooze, and before you know it, we are late for an important event. That makes us even more distracted as we speed through our routines.

We get off the track of life that may be a worthy walk and wander far from where we should be.

Even a single-degree difference on a compass makes a difference hours down the road. I know someone who was so distracted on a trip that they did not realize it even though they missed a turn for nearly an hour! Talk about wasted time!

How often have we turned a “deaf ear” to someone because we don’t want to be distracted by their story or need? Yet, we do not wish to be treated the same way if the roles were reversed.

As Christians, we are so distracted by the noise of this world that we struggle to maintain a clear focus forward. We get distracted by making money, which becomes more critical than staying close to the Lord’s business.

Jesus teaches a parable about a nobleman who goes away for a business need. He tells his servants to “do business until I return.” One translation says, “Occupy until I come.” (Luke 19:13) That phrase tells us much about what our focus is. I have a “trade,” and my job is to be busy with what I’m supposed to do. Focus. Focus. Focus. Do not let the world distract you from your focus!

The Apostle Paul tells us his goal, and it should be a worthy pursuit for us to follow.

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 NKJV

Notice. It’s an “upward call” of God. We are constantly aiming upwards, and onward!

Let’s lose the distracted attitude, and get our focus where it needs to be!