Volume 107: Rest in Focus of 2024

Babies trying to focus their eyes on an object. 

Toddlers short attention span. 

Teenagers on their phones. 

Young adults multitasking between social media and work. 

Distractions are all around us!

"Focus!" 

"Keep your eyes over here!"

"Pay attention to me!"

We hear these phrases from the beginning of our life!

And still to this day, I so often internally command myself to do just that - Focus!

When I am sitting at my desk in the morning and open my Bible for the daily reading... my mind starts to wonder...

When I am sitting in the prayer chapel, praying... I start looking all around the room...

When I am watching a movie... I reach for my phone...

Focus!

Why is it so hard for us to focus? 

I am quick to forget... quick to lose my focus on what is in front of me and what is important. 

As I reflect on 2024, an annual tradition, I went through my journals from the year and they always reveal so much when looked at holistically. The things I learned! The ways I grew! The challenges I overcame! 

Making the decision to extend at Camp Ozark!

Closing out my time in Chattanooga!

Surviving another summer!

Moving to Houston, Texas!

Some big things of 2024 and so many little things spread throughout.

What did I pay attention to? Where was my focus?

My hard fall at work because of coworkers on maternity leave? 
Or all of the ways I grew in places I was challenged?

Being so far from family? 
Or the opportunity to rely more heavily on prayer in my absence?

A crowded city that is hot and doesn't have trees? 
Or a big city with many young adults, activities and opportunities?

A lack of deep friendships around me? 
Or the space to be available to deepen friendships and put myself out there to meet new friends?

There are always different ways to look at my circumstances, different perspectives. 

May I be quick to focus on the one that is positive and outward focused. 

Focus on what matters.

Focus on who I am becoming. 

Focus on who Jesus is.