Today I’m joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. All of us writing on that same word.
Today’s prompt is …. Focus.
We were playing with blocks the other morning – just Jocelyn and I – when she noticed one little flower was missing. We looked all around on the floor around us but it was not there. Our search widened to now looking under the couch.
Too dark to see anything at all underneath, I went to grab a flashlight. Shining it, we saw the little red flower petals.
The Lego piece had been there all along but not until the light settled on it were we able to see it. Focus – the act of bringing all our attention and concentration to one point or object or person.
It had been there all along. It had not moved. Only our focus had changed, becoming sharpened.
John tells us …
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:1, NIV)
Jesus has been here all along, from the beginning when nothing else existed. John continues …
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (verses 10-12)
But when we shift our focus to see Him and believe Him, the Light illuminates the darkness and our eyes behold the Truth:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Funny thing is … only as I focused on the object which the flashlight was illuminating did Jocelyn and I hone in on – the Lego flower. We were no longer seeing the dust bunnies, the crumbs and the other blocks. We retrieved the red flower, our one point of focus.
Only as I maintain my focus on Him will I get to see His glory.
All else will fade.
I’ll only see His grace and truth.
Focus!
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Friday and Grace & Truth and #DanceWithJesus .
I loved this, Joanne! I love it when those tiny everyday moments show us glimpses of the truth- that God is always with us. When we can’t see it, it’s because we have lost our focus. Your story shows this so beautifully.
Visiting you from Five-Minute Friday today where we are neighbors- thanks for sharing your heart.
Thank you so much, Abbey. I love when I get those everyday glimpses. They are the ones which speak the most deeply to me & why I named my blog, Days &
Thoughts 🙂 May you have a wonderful weekend!
Ah, perspective. That’s what’s been on my mind too. I finally joined #FMF for the first time in almost a year. When I saw the word last night, I knew I needed to write this morning. Happy Friday to you!
We so need it, don’t we? Amazing how we can find it in the most simplest of ways 🙂 So grateful for children as they truly make wonderful teachers!
Hi Joanne!
I loved this post and the illustration for the word “focus” and then the scripture you brought in and how Jesus has been here all along, but sometimes we miss Him because He is not in our focus.
Well done!
Blessings,
Pam
Thank you for your encouragement, Pam. Some days can get so busy that I can overlook that He is there – in the midst of it all. May we each learn to stay focused. Blessings!
I love this! “Only as I maintain my focus on Him will I get to see His glory.” It is so easy in the rat race of life to get my eyes looking at something other than Him.
I also like the point that Jesus had been there from the beginning. It was only later that the focus became on Him.
Jerralea, I am so grateful you stopped. It’s amazing to think that He has been present all along. Whether we see Him or not, He is there. I want to stay focused & not miss out!
The ability to see what’s been there all along….mm…good stuff. It’s all a matter of vantage point and perspective. Thank you for shedding light via Jesus perspective. (I’ve got 5 Lego enthusiasts over here too so I know about looking for just that piece). Happy to be visiting from FMF
Tyra, it’s amazing how a little Lego can reveal such a significant thought 🙂 May we both focus on Him & see Him in the midst of it all!
I like that, Joanne. Jesus never changes or fades. He’s not going anywhere. We’re the ones who lose sight of him! Good Five Minute Friday encouragement! Thank you.
:). A beautiful story and a very good point (especially that if we’re focused, we won’t notice the dust bunnies and other gunk–that’s a good life lesson!). Thank you for reminding me to focus on the important things–the stuff the Light wants to point out to me!
Anita, it is amazing how our focus can enable us to overlook other stuff, isn’t it? There was so much which could be pulled out from that one word. May we focus on that which He is shedding His Light on & not get caught up into the minutia of life. Blessings!
Love your perspective on Focus today. I have been a little absent, a much-needed reprieve. Sometimes you just need to focus on the words of others ♥
Nannette, I LOVE your play on words here! Praying that God would renew you during these days of rest! xo
Amen! We have to keep our focus on Jesus to receive what He has for us. Great post.
Lynette
~visiting from FMF (I’m #8 this week)