001 - The Disguise of Distraction
There is a European method of torture from the Middle Ages called distraction, and it wasn’t uncommon for spies and traitors to face the death penalty by means of distraction.
Preferred by the French, distraction was tying each limb of the victim to a different horse and when the signal was given the horses would take off, pulling in four different directions. We’ll just leave the rest to your imagination. This method of death by torture was often referred to as “quartering,” others as “death by dismemberment,” but the French had another word for it: “distraction.”
Distraction is literally being pulled in four different directions.
Buzz, buzz. Chime, chime. Ding, ding. Ring, ring. Those are the sounds of our most familiar modern day distractions. A text here, a call there, another notification; but mainly just scrolling. Mindless, numbing scrolling. One short video after another after another after a dozen more. Time whizzes by our unconscious and unaware minds as we’re recklessly wasting our days delving into absorbent and empty entertainment, observing the moments of others while abandoning our own. (I know that was a long running sentence, but you should read it again.)
The Disguise
What if distraction isn’t always as easy to recognize as a buzzing phone? What if distraction disguises itself as opportunity clothed in provision?
I’ve found this scenario to be most true in my life. Right when I’ve been on the brink of seeing God’s purpose in a season come to pass, distraction always presents itself. It started in the Garden, and it continues today. Distraction sometimes disguises itself as provision. For me, it often looks like an opportunity that has the potential to meet a financial need in the moment, but it’s really just a distraction to keep me from going all in on what I know I have been called to.
Whenever I have followed the distraction, I sacrificed what I wanted most for what I wanted in the moment. It robbed me of purpose, time, and energy. I thought it was a shortcut, but it was really a detour with a costly delay. When distraction disguises itself as provision, we need to remember that we need purpose more than we need profit. God is our provision. He who called us will be faithful to sustain us.
Just Say No
My wife, Andrea, and I are certified fitness instructors, and we completed Revelation Wellness® fitness instructor training in 2022. Half of our training was in-depth Bible study - how cool is that? In our study of the book of Nehemiah, Revelation Wellness® founder Alisa Keeton describes the cost of distraction this way:
Distraction tries to make me good at many things and not excellent at any one thing… We must be proficient at saying, “No!” so we can stay free to serve the One who keeps us free and sets others free.
When I was a kid, I was in a D.A.R.E. commercial where my only repetitive line was, “Just say, ‘No!’” Although it worked for me as a kid in school when it came to drug abuse, I’ve really struggled to say, “No!” as an adult when it comes to distraction.
What it took me so long to realize was that No is actually Yes. There are some things I’ve said yes to as a Jesus follower, as a husband, as a father. As a Jesus follower, I’ve said yes to practicing the disciplines that Jesus lived and taught (like forgiveness, humility, and integrity.) As a husband, I’ve said yes to putting my wife before anyone else, including me. As a father, I’ve said yes to giving my kids unconditional love, protection, and a godly example.
Because those things I’ve already said yes to are part of my values of who I want to be, I say no to anything that would keep me from fulfilling those commitments. That means when I say no to a really good thing, I’m simply reaffirming my more important yes to something greater. When I say No to distraction, I’m actually saying Yes to Jesus, my wife, and my kids.
Each “No!” to every opportunity that is not your calling is really a resounding “Yes!” to your God-given purpose. No is essential. No is life-giving. No is focus. No is holy.
Don’t be fooled by distraction, no matter how it’s disguised. Know your calling, and let your purpose be rooted deep in your soul. Stay the course. You got this. Stay focused. Say a holy, “No!”
