Confessions of a Distracted Walker

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise..."

Ephesians 5:15

We all know that it’s dangerous to drive while texting or talking on your cell phone.  Did you know that it can be equally dangerous to walk while using your cell phone?  I read an article about it the other day.  People are getting hurt, seriously hurt while walking and using their cell phones.  They are walking into things.  They are stepping off of things and falling.  They are walking into streets and getting hit by cars.  It’s called “distracted walking.”

I read that article and I knew right away, I am guilty.  I confess, “I am a ‘distracted walker.’”  No I haven’t gotten hurt… yet.  But I have walked into a light pole.  I have walked in front of a Frankfurt bicyclist and gotten yelled at.  I have almost walked into people walking the other way on the sidewalk.  I have even gotten on the wrong “tram line” here in Frankfurt.  There have been a couple of times, when I missed my U-Bahn stop (that’s subway stop for those not from Germany).  Each time I was texting, reading an article on my phone, having a Facebook chat or just plain talking on the phone.  In short, I wasn’t paying attention.  I wasn’t watching where I was going.  I am guilty of being a “distracted walker.”

The same thing happens to you and me spiritually.  We are all too easily distracted in our walk with Christ.   How many times have you intended to take time to read God’s Word only to get distracted by some other activity?  I intend every day to start the day out reading Scripture.  But far too often I decide to do something else first and then never get back to my Bible.  Too often I am distracted by how busy I am, and use that as an excuse for not taking time for the Word, for not taking time to talk to my Lord.  Have you ever lost track of time surfing the internet? You don’t even have to go look at bad websites.  I sometimes get distracted looking at the news.  Temptation to sin by its very nature is a distraction. Whatever the temptation is, it always leads us off of God’s path and straight into trouble.  If we are being honest, we must all make this confession.  When it comes to following God, we are all easily distracted walkers.

The solution is really simple.  Close the screen on your phone, turn off the ringer and put your phone in your pocket until you get to where you are going.  Paul gives us the same advice when it comes to our walk in Christ.  “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise…”  We read something similar in Hebrews 12.  There the author compares our walk in Christ to running a race.  Walking or running, the counsel fits.  “…let us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily entangles and let us run with endurance the race that is marked out for us, fixing our eyes upon Jesus…”  In other words, just as with your cell phone, stop doing whatever it is that is leading you away from Christ.  If it’s sin – put it away forever.  If it’s just a distraction, set it aside till later and watch where you are going.   Look carefully! Turn. Repent! Fix your eyes of faith upon Jesus!

Looking to Jesus is the cure for distracted walking.  For one thing He forgives us.  By His death He has paid the consequences for our misguided walk.  He rose again to set us back on God’s path.  For another He knows where He is going.  When I came to Frankfurt for an interview, our DCE Kendra gave me a tour of the city.  How did I get around?  I followed her.  She knew where she was and where she was taking me. I didn’t.  That’s Jesus. He knows where He is going.  He knows where He is taking us.  He knows the way. We don’t.  In fact He is the way.  We’re not.  What’s the best way to follow Him?  Open His word.  Study His Word.  Learn to know Him better. After all Jesus is the Word of God made flesh.  You want to walk with Him? Read, listen and He will guide.  After all, the word of God “is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.”  Its only keeping your eyes on Jesus that gets you back on the path and keeps you on the path. Amen.