Focus On The Positive

One day I was sitting on a bench, outside a derelict church, with a scene of rolling hills, pheasants and luscious green pastures before me. My left ear was positioned in the direction of the motorway and I could hear the continual drone of passing cars and lorries. My right ear however was facing away from the motorway and was filled with the song of birds, happily tweeting away on a brisk spring afternoon. When I capped my hand over my left ear, the sound of the motorway muffled and the sound of the birds grew louder. With the peaceful scene before me, it was almost tranquil and I deeply breathed in the preciousness of that moment. When I uncapped my left ear the dreaded drone of the traffic returned. I sighed as the unwelcome noise overtook my focus again.

How easy it is to focus on the negative and allow it to distract or even drone out the positive. This is pit many of us have fallen into from time to time and are also in danger of staying in, if we’re not careful. Paul must have understood this when, inspired by Holy Spirit, he penned the above words to the church in Philippi. In the verses preceding this one, we are also exhorted to rejoice in the Lord always, to not to be anxious about anything and in everything, with thanksgiving, to offer up our requests to God.

May we take the Apostle’s advice and have our ears and eyes and thoughts continually tuned in to whatsoever is pure, just, lovely and good! It wouldn’t hurt to throw in a load of thankfulness as well and allow the anxieties of the day to change shoulders. Doing so will lift our drooping spirits and put a smile on our Heavenly Father’s face.

Prayer: Father God, sometimes I feel really negative and it’s hard to focus on the positive that’s all around me. Please help me to re-focus on what is good, lovely, just and pure and to be a child with a thankful heart. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.