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Distractions


He said: “I love you, Lord, my source of strength! The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge.  I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.  The waves of death engulfed me, the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.  The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.” (Psalm 18:1-5)
          It’s being a difficult morning. My drama meter is reading like a compass in the Bermuda Triangle, it’s all over the place. My situation is nowhere near what David’s was, but it’s one of those days. I tried talking to God about it on my walk and learned something yet again. 
          Yes, God is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer, and my rocky summit. He’s my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge. He is all those things, but none of those things do a lot of good when you drag the enemy along for tea. They aren’t my friends. I know they’re not my friends. I’m not even trying to be friendly, really, but they’re there, and I find myself arguing with them instead of talking to God.  
        Brother Lawrence, in The Practice of the Presence of God discusses these distractions. His solution is to simply turn one’s attention back to God. Making a big deal about it doesn’t help – it gives the distraction more power. 
           Now all I have to do is remember that when I’m arguing with someone who isn’t there instead of talking to God.

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