We were sailing aboard a tour
boat, heading for the Hole in the Rock in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Most
of the tourists were at the ship's stern, complaining about the view, but I knew
something they didn't: The best spot to view this natural wonder was at the bow
of the ship! And that's where I was headed.
I had just crossed the ship's cabin area when it
happened. I initially thought the room was completely empty, but as I neared the
fore exit, I noticed a teenager in my path, fiddling with her Ipod. "She's
missing the highlight of the trip," I thought as I squeezed by her. But with my
attention turned towards the teen, I didn't notice that the height of the door
was less than equal to my own height. Nor did I notice the sign posted over the
door: "Mind your head!" I turned away from that teen just in time to smack my
head on the top frame of that low door.
The impact sent me sprawling onto my back, with my
head bouncing up and down off the floor as if it were made of rubber. Needless
to say, I was disoriented for a while. I had no idea that it was possible to see
so many stars in the daytime!
The boat's photographer ran to my aid and helped me to
my feet, then he encouraged me to sit down for a while.
I looked at him strangely. Surely he would understand
that I couldn't do that! I had a picture to take!
The announcement came right then that we were sailing
through the hole of the rock. I pulled myself unsteadily to my feet and headed
outside, but believe me, I ducked this time! And I learned something else:
It's hard to take pictures when all your brain is worried about is shaking off
the dizziness! Nonetheless, I got my pictures while sailing through the Hole of
the Rock.
I have to wonder, however, if my fall had anything to
do with the funny focus of my pictures …
More often more than not, my focus isn't where it
should be. I am too distracted by my circumstances. I let them too easily
overwhelm me. If only my mind was always focused on:
"I have to love like no one else does, just
like Jesus does!"
If I had displayed this attitude from the beginning, perhaps I would have
avoided hitting my head on the door jamb!
I wonder if this was the problem with the priest and
the Levite when they encountered that poor man on the road who had been severely
beaten by tugs. It seems that their focus was a bit off as well. They had their
own agendas, and they completely missed the purpose of their existence:
"A priest happened to be going down the same road, and
when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he
came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side." (Luke 10:31-33 NIV)
This priest and this Levite were kind of like the
teenage on the boat, the one who was so fascinated by her Ipod. I am certain she
would have come to my aid, if only she had noticed what had happened to me!
It seems I am not the only one whose focus is off
course. Our petty obsessions keep us from focusing on others, like Jesus did.
They keep us from real living! Weren't we urged to "Above all, love each other
deeply…" (1 Peter 4:8 NIV)?
But like the good Samaritan in the story, there was
one who came to my aid: The photographer. Despite the fact that his job on the
boat was to take the best pictures possible, he was also focused on others. He
was my Good Samaritan and I am grateful for him. In a small way, he portrayed
God's focus on the universe: "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he
had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and
holy by his love." (Eph 1:4 The Message)
It's time we take notice of the sign: "Mind your
head"! A lot of headaches could be avoided!
Are you minding your head?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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