YouTube: Let’s Begin
Another new year is upon us, so we naturally turn our thoughts to new beginnings. This idea takes on various meanings depending on where we are in life. The one principle that applies to all, however, has to do with recognizing each moment as a new beginning.
As I write this message, for example, it is easy to allow distractions to divert my attention away from the task at hand. Working with a computer means that I have access to a lot of interesting information. For example, as I wrote this line, I thought about the lost library of Alexandria, and what ancient knowledge we may have lost because of the fire that destroyed it. With a few keystrokes, I could have pursued that topic, and many others that would undoubtedly pop up along the way. Then, I was notified that we have a new subscriber. A friend emailed and I was alerted of that. And Facebook presented yet another friend suggestion, which I no longer take. So, what about the task at hand?
To illustrate my point, I did not pursue research on the ancient library, check out our new subscriber, respond to my friend’s email, or check out the new friend suggestion. I’ll do those things at another moment. When I sat down to complete this task, I was saying let’s begin. I was immediately confronted with temptations that would detract from my intended goal. Then I recalled this saying of Jesus:
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Even as I pulled this passage from an online bible, I was tempted to pursue a couple of other links that came up in my search. Yet they were not in the field I intended to plow. You get the point.
While this sounds like a trivial example, it illustrates exactly why it is so challenging to give our full attention to the only place we can ever be: here and now. In the past, I have said we do not have to achieve success for our whole life. We only need to achieve success now. Our mind is like the computer that keeps throwing up interesting links that would distract us from being present. Let’s begin to get in the habit of putting our hand to the plow and staying with it until the field is ready to plant.