This morning, my watch wanted to act up. Electronics seem to do that fairly frequently for me. I know what they are made to do. I know how they should work. But all too often, it doesn’t happen. This morning, my watch was ‘stuck’ on the screen used to turn it on. It is a small triangle that should turn into the regular screen. But the triangle stayed and nothing else happened. It is at this point that I am tempted to press the buttons incessantly until something happens. Or hold all the buttons down at one time to see if it will simply reboot. I am always willing to press buttons to see if I get some outcome. This morning – nothing happened – nothing. Same triangle continued on the same screen with no reaction to my button pushing at all.
I had not had my coffee yet, so I found it best to put it aside and fix the magic bean potion. Nothing good really comes before coffee anyway. I left it on the counter and went on about my business. In a few minutes, I returned to the same screen. I walked away – again. Upon a third return, you guessed it, same screen, same triangle. This time, though, it did reboot when I pressed the button to turn it on. Apparently it needed me to leave it alone for a little while. It must have been in a mood and was not going to work despite my frustration. Or maybe I simply was a little more kind since coffee was making its way into my system. At any rate, it worked.
I am reminded that it can be helpful to walk away. There are some situations where we become so involved we cannot see a solution or think clearly. We are determined to fix something we look past the answer. We press every button we know only to find ourselves frustrated and ready to throw it all away. There are times when walking away is the best option. It allows time to think. It gives time to refocus and reconsider. It often helps us to not say or do something we will later regret. I get it isn’t always possible to walk away. But I would guess there are many more opportunities to walk away than we might acknowledge.
Consider if walking away, even for a moment, might help you gain clarity. Walk away so when you step back in, you are prepared and ready. We might just find things fix themselves if we would get out of the way. We might find our attitude needed the fix all along.
Focus Scripture:
John 8:7-9
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 