Focused

“You all seem so focused. That’s the most striking thing about you.”

These words, spoken by a friend who is learning more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, keep replaying in my mind.

She was referring to the members of the church she has met here in the US, as well as in her native country.

Focused.

I’ve spent some time thinking about that word.

Focus = “To adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly”

Such a beautiful description–so poetic; so profound.

What exactly am I, as a member of the church, focused on?

“Each of us has a mission to fulfill in…building God’s kingdom. The writer of Hebrews gives us precise instructions about what we must do to keep our focus: ‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross …’ (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“Christ, our example, is the One who has gone before us in the race. We are not asked to look at the spectators in the arena or at the other runners, but to keep our eyes on Jesus and imitate Him. Jesus Himself said, ‘Follow Me,’ because He knew that staying focused would be one of the most difficult things for us to do.” Source

In a world filled with distractions, it is difficult to stay focused.

Christian author Charles Swindoll says being “entangled in thorns” (Mark 4), or being overwhelmed by distractions, is one of our greatest downfalls.

I love Elder Russell M. Nelson’s counsel:

“People need to have a little private time and ask themselves what they really want in life. Is it entertainment? Is it wealth? Is it fame? They need to decide what they really want to accomplish. No runner starting a race would ever start without knowing whether he’s doing a hundred-yard dash or a marathon. Many people, in and out of the Church, have not really framed their objectives, what they want to accomplish more than anything else.

“If you really want a certain blessing, you’d better find out what the laws are that govern that blessing and then work on becoming obedient to those laws.”

–Elder Nelson, June 2005 Ensign

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Orville and Wilbur Wright knew the importance of “framing their objectives”, discovering their mission in life, and staying focused:

“What the two had in common above all was unity of purpose and unyielding determination. They had set themselves on a “mission”. (The Wright Brothers, David McCollough, p. 8)

I wonder:

Have I set myself on a mission?

Am I focused?

Am I adapting to the prevailing level of spiritual light in my life and able to see clearly?

Are my eyes set on the Savior?

Is He my focus?