Focus on the Right Thing (04/05/2025)

“You are home from school. You are 10 years old. You watch your little brother who is 7 until your mom gets home from work. You are doing your homework with your brother when you smell smoke. You go to the kitchen and see a fire on the stove top. What is the problem? What do you do?”

This is a scenario from a program I used to present called “Kids in Charge” where we worked on helping youth with problem solving for their safety. It was in rural Iowa where many youth went home to an empty house because parents were still working. Childcare was difficult to find. Our goal was to equip the kids with problem solving skills that would help them in their current situation. One of our frequently used axioms was “Focus on the right thing.”

In the above scenario, the right thing to focus on was safety for yourself and your sibling. The fire was a problem, but the first priority was safety. It was before cell phones. The youth were trained to get out of the house and seek a nearby adult who could help or call for help.

Yesterday, I looked at the calendar and realized that I have burned up four weeks of lent. Tomorrow will be the 5th Sunday of Lent. The season is meant to stir me to conversion. I looked at myself and my life since Ash Wednesday. Not a lot of “conversion” to be found. I haven’t eaten meat on Fridays, but what sacrifice is that when I love fish and seafood? I have given to charities, but that is something I have always done. It is not challenging me to change. I looked at my prayer life. It hasn’t really changed either. “What is the problem?

What do you do?” These questions from that program years ago came to mind. If I had a spiritual tape measure, would the distance between me and Christ be less?

How about you? Has the Lenten journey of conversion brought noticeable change in your life? Are you finding yourself closer to Christ and to the person He calls you to be?

“What is the problem?” The problem is my “change.” I struggle with change. It’s not comfortable. It’s rarely convenient. But change, turning, conversion – that is the purpose of Lent. Repentance for my sins and a new and enhanced desire to follow Christ more closely is what Lent calls me to. As I sat and pondered, I thought of the words of a wise person years ago when I was struggling with making needed changes in my life. She asked me a really good question. “Which is scarier? Making the changes needed now or being the same person 20 years from now?”

Today I asked myself, “What is the problem?” I answered, “My salvation.” Then I asked, “What do you do?” and my answer was “change.” I took my dilemma to the LORD in prayer because I know I cannot make this journey on my own. I begged for the gift of the Spirit to lead me, to turn me, to soften my stubbornness and steel my resolve. I promised the LORD to open my mind, heart and soul to change, to conversion, to more in, with and through Him. And I begged forgiveness for wasting precious time on this journey.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.