Focus

Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.

              Deuteronomy 32:3 NIV

              
Over the past few days refreshing rains watered our dry Texas soil. For the moment, we are surrounded by green grass, spring flowers and leafing trees. The landscape shouts one message; spring is here. 

The bucks have dropped their antlers and doe after doe shows signs of soon-coming babies that will speckle the landscape with tiny white tails and spotted bodies resting in safe places; spring is here. Everywhere we look God’s creation is focused on the rituals of spring. We expect them. We look forward to them. We know the cycle and the focus of each season.

 

Our words also have seasons. With loving words, we can warm the heart of the disenfranchised or with words of anger we can send a blast of coldness from which the hearer may never recover. Our words can shower seasons of delight or moments of misery. Our words can shout forgiveness and reconciliation or un-forgiveness and shame.

 

In Matthew 22:37-39, we find a prescription for life that will encourage us to focus our words in a positive direction:

 

 “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

 

Living life loving God and loving each other should develop in each of us the desire to focus our words on the season of spring. Refreshing. Life-giving. Showers of blessing.

 

Before you speak: Focus!

 

© Joyce Powell