I sat in church last Sunday behind the tallest guy in the entire building.  We have screens at our church so the silhouette of his head was perfectly centered covering much of what I needed to see.  “Ugh!” I thought and I might have even let it slip through my lips as we stood for worship.  I kept having to lean over and look around him so I could see the words to the songs; it was the biggest distraction.  I tried to sing and worship but all I could think about was my dumb luck sitting behind such a tall guy.  Finally, many lyrics in, I was able to get my eyes focused on the screen and my heart on what I was singing. 

It wasn’t easy, but what a difference it made in my experience. 

I’d waited all week to be in church, I love going and singing and hearing the Word of God; dealing with this unfortunate situation made me more disappointed than it really should have.  I mean, honestly, I have a son that is six foot three, why would I ever secretly scorn someone with extra height?

But, I did. 

Or, at least, the inconvenience of it.

We sat down for the message and again I found myself not able to see. Our pastor is live-streamed in on a large video screen and, have you ever heard a voice but could only see part of the person speaking?  I squirmed in my chair and scooted over closer to my husband, he probably wondered why I was trying to be cozy in the middle of church.   But, he didn’t say anything.  After the message and as we left I was complaining about how hard it had been to concentrate with such a large person directly in front of me.  Seriously, he could’ve sat anywhere, but he sat right in front of me.   In the car I silently grumbled, “I tried to worship you, Lord, I really did.  Did you see how I was willing to be uncomfortable for you?”  My self-righteous alter ego was in full form as we drove to the taco place to meet the kids for lunch.  Here’s what I think the Lord said back to me translated in my own words…”I saw you.  This is how it is in life.  I am always there, visible and ready, but you simply see what’s right in front of you.  You miss seeing the bigger picture, and what I’m doing, because you can’t see around the distractions.”   Well, that’s not at all what I thought he’d say.  I thought I was being pretty “saved” by sitting awkwardly all through church and not complaining about it, well, not complaining too much anyway.   

I haven’t been able to get away from this conversation with the Lord since it happened. 

Do I really do that? 

Do I hyper-focus on distractions?

The God of the universe says I do, so no sense arguing.   

This one hit hard, you guys, because I don’t want to be a complainer.  I don’t want to spend my days only noticing the bad or inconvenient.  There’s a never ending litany of things to be upset about and therefore complain about.  But, more than that, I don’t want to spend my days focused on things that will keep me from seeing God in all of his goodness and mercy.  If I’m focused on “tall guy” while God is working just beyond him and all I’m thinking about is the frustration of having to deal with “tall guy,” I’m going to totally miss something beautiful or powerful or meaningful or important.   Now, please go back and insert whatever distraction you’re facing right now for “tall guy” and reread that sentence.  When we focus on the distractions we miss out on the blessing of what God is doing.  Oh, he’ll still do the work, but we’ll miss the joy that comes with seeing it and experiencing it because we’re grumbling over “tall guy.”  And, newsflash; “tall guy” is not going anywhere.  He may sit somewhere next week, but he’ll still be there.  There will always be distractions and there will always be a temptation to complain about them.  And, there will always be God and he is always and forever working. So now, we get to choose.  Where will we focus our attention?  On the never ending distractions or on God and his mighty works?   

We can’t have it both ways. 

One cancels out the other.

What we SEE is up to us. 

This week an adorable little girl sat in front of me, and I was so thankful to see the screen fully.  But, the lesson of “tall guy” is still with me and I was prepared to praise God no matter who or what was in front of me.  Ironically, my tall son came in and sat down right in front of a young lady about my height; I wanted to apologize to her, but, nah, I decided maybe God has a lesson for her in the inconvenience like he did me.  

Stay focused on God and don’t let the real blessings of life be clouded by a few distractions.

Now, in my humble opinion, that’s living your best life.