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
Mind Your Head
Today's Bible Verse:
"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)
Mind Your Head
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