Focus

I realized in Ethiopia how often people focus on what they don’t have in life. I am no different. Growing up in American its part of culture to focus on what we want. Maybe it’s big like a job or a car or maybe as small as a new pair of shoes. Either way, most of us live wanting the next thing. Sometimes we obsess over it in our minds. And if we don’t have it we just don’t feel satisfied. It may not even be a specific material thing. Sometimes we are just not satisfied with our comfort level and want a more comfortable life, whatever that entails.

I really began to see this as soon as I flew into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I immediately wanted all that I used to have in America: familiar food, good friends, and a warm comfortable bed. The list goes on. While those are all good things to an extent, I know I don’t really “need” them. In fact when I began to make visits out in the field in Ethiopia, I had even less. When I was out in the field I wanted to be in Addis. I began to focus on the comforts which I had in Addis. I wanted a warm cup of coffee and bagel, I wanted that rock-hard but warm bed, and people that I got to know at the office. I realized there was a trend. People want what they don’t have. It’s human nature. And I think because of this, we are rarely satisfied with where we are and what we have. Why? I think we are not satisfied because we focus on the wrong things.

I keep running into people in Ethiopia who have so little, yet still satisfied with life. I went to a school earlier this week where most kids had to walk miles to get to and then cross a lake. Not to mention many of the kids had to swim in order to cross the lake to get school. In reality they may not know that their life is much harder than mine. But then again, they might not even care. Most of them are not the kind of people to focus on what they don’t have. When the interns and i made it to the school, the kids were so happy to see us that they sang for us. They were so happy to be there. Its the same for many Ethiopians out in the country who have to walk miles and cross rivers just to get to school or a clinic or work. Yet there is little complaining about it. It’s just the way things are. I have seen kids playing in the streets with flat soccer balls, yet they are just as happy (if not more happy) than kids I see playing in the US. And the kids are not complaining because their shoes are not the newest. Many don’t even think to complain that they eat the same meal three times a day. It’s the way things are. In fact, I think they are satisfied with the simplicity of it all. And that may be the key. It’s the simplicity that leads to satisfaction.

I think it’s what we focus on that determines if we live simple and satisfied lives. When I say simple I don’t mean that you only do one thing every day. I only mean that you focus on the most important things. It’s like the human eye. We can see lots around us all the time, but we only can focus on one thing. Depending on what we focus on determines what we think about. And really we can only be focusing on one thing at a time so that thing becomes the primary object and everything else is secondary. It’s the same spiritually. It’s this kind of focus that leads to simplicity.

What I mean is that I think at the deepest level, we think about what our hearts focus on. And often that focus can consume our minds. If we focus on what we don’t have, it can really distract us from enjoying life. Take, for example, the American rock star who seems to have it all but is still not satisfied because he always wants more. This wishing and lack of satisfaction stops us from living in the moment and enjoying life. Lots of people spend their lives focusing temporary and sometimes unattainable things; for some its money, power, and fame. For others it’s just getting through the day or finding the perfect husband or wife. Whatever that one thing is, it will draw our attention and hearts toward it.

I am learning that the only thing worth focusing on is Jesus. He is the only thing I really need anyway, so it makes sense to put Him first. I believe God wants us to focus on Him despite the distracting things in this world that can turn our attention.

If you really think about it, what is it that you really need? Like I was learning earlier, good food and friends and comfort are good things. But I don’t really need them. All I really need is God. It’s that simple. Since we are drawn to what we focus on, focusing on what we don’t have will never satisfy. But if we focus on what never goes away and we will always have (Christ), we will always be satisfied.

Now I am not saying that it is wrong to have other things and enjoy what we have. But I am saying that the goal of our lives should not be to focus on those things. I am also not saying that I have figured all of this out either. I am still learning. But I think that everything secondary in life, instead of being our focus, should help us concentrate our attention on the most beautiful and satisfying thing in our spiritual eyes, Jesus.

Focusing on Jesus has left me so much more satisfied in the place where I am at. It makes life so much simpler to just focus on Him. I don’t have to worry about my future, my safety, what I am going to eat, where I am going to sleep, or anything else. While those will always be things that are a part of my life, they will never be more important that God. The more I have been away, the more I am learning to just enjoy God and who He is. And I think the more we allow Him to be the primary focus of our lives, everything else that vies for our attention will fade to the side. Like in a race, we draw near to what we focus on. (Hopefully it’s the finish line for most people). Therefore when we focus on Christ we drawn near to him. And the Bible says that when we draw near to Him, God draws near to us (James 4:8).

Its this kind of simplicity that is a wonderful thing. Because when everything else is changing around is at a million miles an hour, one thing will always remain the same: Christ Jesus. Hebrews 13 says that Jesus never changes. He is always the same. He is the most predictable bet when we need someone to rely on. That’s why it makes sense to fix our thoughts, minds, and lives on He who does not change.

So here is what I want to say. I know from experience that life can be crazy. Africa especially is a very unpredictable place to be. I realize that every day that passes. But my life becomes so much more simple and satisfied when my focus is on Christ. There are a lot of things I could focus on, like what I don’t have and what I miss from the States. But focusing on that will never satisfy me (because those are circumstantial things). But when I focus on what I really need and want (God) I am completely satisfied, because He promises to always be there!