Of all the seasons of the year, the coming of spring always makes me smile a little wider. Here in Michigan, we’ve had a tease of spring-typical weather for a week, which boosted my energy. This sudden weather-inspired energy boost caused me to think about, plan, and start some new projects that were not in my original objective. Consequently, I became disorganized and distracted from being shifted in unanticipated directions.
As we enter the year’s spring season, we see many changes around us.
The warmer sunshine, tree leaves sprouting, flowers blooming, and birds singing. And when you look closely at the return of your lawn or garden, you can also see spring weeds sprouting up.
OBSTRUCTIONS IN OUR SPRING FORWARD
WEEDS
Weeds Can Be Uncontrollable, and They Can Grow Unexpectedly In Places We Don’t Desire
A weed is any plant growing where you do not want it to. They block out sunlight, compete with flowers and lawn growth, and steal water and nutrients.
DISTRACTIONS
Distractions Can Be Overwhelming, and They Can Propagate Unexpectedly In Our Daily Living
A distraction is anything that diverts attention from an area of focus by blocking or weakening the
intended outcome.
WEEDS AND DISTRACTIONS ARE SIMILAR
It’s normal to expect different kinds of weeds in your garden or lawn to appear at the onset of spring, which competes with the growth of your garden or yard. Weeds cause disruption and destruction; if not dealt with quickly, they will grow, overtake, and can destroy your gardens and lawns.
It’s also normal to expect different types of distractions to surface. Distractions can be internal and external. The similarity between weeds and distractions is that they can cause disruption and destruction.
Before you know it, they’ve intercepted your time and can cause you to spend more money than expected. They can be deceptive, appearing to be something that they’re not. A weed can look like a beautiful flower, and a distraction may seem like a golden opportunity.
THEY REQUIRE CONTROL
They both require restraint to avoid undesirable outcomes. Just as weeds need weed control to be eliminated or to lessen their growth, we must also control distractions because they can bombard us with too much information and not always the correct information. We can lose focus and become disorganized and confused as I became about my intended purpose and plans.
DISTRACTIONS CAN CAUSE US TO LOSE OUR PLACE
[HOW TO STAY ON TRACK]
Stay Focused
“Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.” (Prov. 4:25)
Listen and Obey
“If you wander from the right path, either to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, You should go this way. Here is the right way.” (Isa. 30:21)
Spring is a transiting time of welcoming and embracing the new. Distractions, i.e., weeds, will always be around and with us, but it’s up to us to keep them at bay. If we let Him, God is endeavoring to do new things in our life. He is not a backward God; He is a present and forward God who desires to move us forward continually.
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” (Isa. 43:19)
Distractions are like weeds; they can hinder your growth and choke out God’s best for you. Say focused and Happy Spring Forward to you, and as always, “May God bless you Richly and keep you safe.”
Thank you for letting me share my journey with you.
Sincerely,
Jacqui
