Focus on Why?

Life is busy.  Our culture glorifies busy “ness”.  Technology allows us to now stay plugged and  “busy” 24 x 7, if we so desire, and many of us not just desire but demand it.  There is no faster path to creating discomfort with my teenagers than to move their phone out of arm’s reach and ask them to sit “unplugged” for a few moments.  I admit I’m not much better at unplugging myself-  FOMO (interpreted as “fear of missing out” for the technologically challenged) is an omnipresent specter if technology is not within our imminent grasp.  This is no novel concept; it has been written about relentlessly- ironically on the internet, ad nauseum.

I sometimes wonder if our addiction is just a form of self aggrandizement.  A means of convincing ourselves that we are so important to the universe that it can’t continue rotating for a second without our input, our monitoring, our ever watchful gaze — and selfie posts, of course.  Who in the world wouldn’t want to know exactly what we are eating at this very moment?  Similar to a “god” complex akin to putting ourselves at the center of the universe and empowering us to pull the puppet strings of the world to satisfy our desire to control and proselytize.   Where am I going with this?  Technological apocalypse?  Heaven forbid, no, I’m much too far avanced in my addiction to Google answers at my beck and call.  I am advocating however perspective and pause.

I have begun introducing the word “WHY” into my thought vocabulary.  Why am I surfing through Facebook at this very moment?  I love seeing updated posts of my friends near and far and watching the metamorphosis of their children as they grow and become the people God created them to be.  However, more often than not, I find myself scrolling endlessly through the posts of political opinions, rants, and yes- dinner photos, which  really does nothing to improve the qualify of my life, or that of others.  I’ve found it is enough to check the most recent posts of the day, acknowledge those I love with a thumbs up “like”, and move on.  I really don’t miss much if I don’t revisit Facebook  for -GASP- another 24 hours.

Technology bashing aside, asking yourself , “Why?” is a great equalizer. How does what you’re doing right now fit into your life priorities?  The majority of the population groans getting out of bed in the morning, focusing negative energy on the drudgery of reluctantly heading to work, rather than the “Why?” of our work day.  Why do you go to work?  Are you a nurse who literally holds the life pulse of each of the individuals they care for each day?  Are you a teacher who makes a lasting psychological impact on the lives of children?  Are you a ____ (fill in the blank)  that goes to work every day in exchange for financial resources that provide a better quality of life for your family?  Why do you do what you do each day?  When was the last time you deliberately expressed gratitude for having a job? I know I personally find my work much more rewarding when I focus on the people I am able to help and the financial margin I am able to provide for my college bound children, hopefully improving their quality of life in the process. Focusing on my “why”  makes the inevitable work stressors much more tolerable.

To step back from the day to day microcosm and gain a more macro vantage point, what is your spiritual “why” for each thing you do?  How does what you’re doing benefit not just you, but God’s ultimate purpose for your life?

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

If we are to find the purpose in life God intended for us, we can’t progress with intention without asking, “Why?” Why do you get out of bed each morning?  Are the actions you are taking each day making a positive difference, moving your life and the life of those you influence in the right direction? Are the actions you are taking, decisions you are making, things you are saying, and even thoughts you are thinking, worthy of your, “Why?”  Are you being intentional with the time on earth God has given you?  If not, what are you waiting for? Set your phone down, ask “Why,”  pray for guidance, and move forward with purpose.

“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ” Romans 8:28

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 cuPhoto by Pixabay on Pexels.com