In the 2010 Pixar movie "Up!" a talking dog made a single word famous.
"Squirrel!"
Saying that single word means someone has become distracted from their train of thought by something unrelated. I've heard it shouted out during sermons, I've heard it used in meetings at work.
We have a mission here on earth, one purpose. Jesus made it very clear when he said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Think about that for a moment. This is our purpose. The reason Jesus Christ came and died and rose again. Are we allowing too many "squirrels' to distract us from this great commission?
I heard a comedian once who talked about how we put off going to the eye doctor. He said something like, "but then you finally go and you get the new glasses and you realize how clearly you could have been seeing all along! How can seeing better not be a top priority? How can that be at the bottom of the "to do list?"
The Kingdom of God. Is this a priority in our lives, or do we allow it to be pushed to the bottom of the "to do" list?
I'm not suggesting everything is a squirrel. Our life is full of tasks from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep. However, it does take a discerning heart to judge what is a responsible task, and what is a distraction. A good indicator is how much we think about the Kingdom of God, how much we pray, how much we prepare.
Today, let's take a moment and pray. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to point out the squirrels as we go about our day.
After all, "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
There is a greater purpose for us being on this earth. Let's not allow distractions to cause us to miss it.
