Being Distracted: The Day the Police Came for Megan

About two years ago, I took a trip to Massachusetts for a visit. While I was there, I stayed with some missionaries for a few days and got to explore Boston. I also got to visit some Benedictine monks in order to make a retreat. However, before the retreat, I was in contact with some friends of a friend who were going to allow me to stay with them before I went on retreat. You see, they lived in this beautiful little town where there was a nice beach, and my friend had recommended that I go there to take in the beauty of it all. It worked out that I was able to stay with the family for one night and had some time the next day to explore their little town. I remember it was a beautiful Saturday morning, and I had planned to go to the beach alone that day. The friend I was staying with had explained to me how I could get to the beach, and she encouraged me to make myself at home. After she left, I decided to begin my adventure. Before I left, I took note of how her home looked thinking that I would be able to recognize it when I returned. Then, I began my journey to the beach. Somehow, it was not as easy to find as it seemed. Yet, I was determined. I was going to get to the beach. Oh! But wait, I didn’t have my water bottle. So, before continuing to find the beach, I decided to head back to the house to get my water bottle. When I arrived at the house (or where I thought the house was as the houses looked similar), I noticed there was a car parked now. “Hmm, maybe a friend came to visit.” I then proceeded to enter the house only to be surprised by a woman I did not know and her dog. The dog began barking at me and the woman said, “ What are you doing in my house? Get out of my house!” I quickly closed the door in disbelief as I realized that I had walked into the wrong house! I then found the correct house and explained to my friend’s daughter what had just happened. She laughed and told me I should share it with her mom. I grabbed my water bottle and headed yet again on my journey to the beach. As I was leaving the house, I saw the woman whose home I had just broken into outside and on the phone. Being Megan, I simply waved and smiled to demonstrate to her that I meant no harm. I thought a smile and a wave didn’ t spell “robber”. Anyway, I continued on my journey to the beach and met a sweet little lady and her grandson. I stopped and began talking with them and explained to the lady what just happened to me. She felt sorry that that had happened. Not long after, a motorcycle police pulled up. I remember telling the sweet little lady confidently, “ He came for me.” As he crossed the street, I explained what had happened and as you can see that I did not have to serve any time in jail, so you can guess how that story ended. He understood, continued on his way, and I continued on my journey to the beach.

I couldn’t believe something like that happened to me and sometimes you wonder why things happen. Perhaps God wanted me to pray for the lady whose house I broke into. Perhaps someone needed a good laugh. Perhaps I could reflect on what Jesus meant when He said, “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” Maybe He meant that specifically for Megan who just barged in to some stranger’s home. However, I think that my little story gives us something important to reflect on… being distracted. This might sound funny but what exactly is a distraction? What does it mean to be distracted? If you just google the words ‘distraction’ and ‘distracted’, here’s what it says. A distraction can be defined as something that prevents someone from giving their full attention to something else. To be distracted means to be unable to concentrate because one’s mind is preoccupied. Perhaps I was distracted that day. I wanted to go to the beach and I wasn’t really focused on being able to correctly identify the house. I wasn’t paying attention. I also think that when we are distracted, it’s not that we are not paying attention to anything but that we are paying attention to the wrong thing. I only focused on the way the house looked and maybe the surroundings but not what really mattered like maybe.. let’s say.... the address :) Why is that important? Why does it matter? We hear it all of the time. “ I get so easily distracted.” “Wait, what you said? I was distracted.” “I am so ADD.” Recently, I realized how so many things serve as a distraction in our lives and we aren’t even aware of it. I’d like to look at a few points and areas in which we can be distracted.

Our Thoughts as a Distraction

I don’t know about you but I am very much a thinker and a planner. My thoughts tend to be very analytical. What if this happens? I wonder what he-she meant when she said that? Is that a good decision? Don’t get me wrong, it is a very good thing to think. However, I know that I can be an overthinker and this gets in the way of recognizing the beauty and goodness of life. Whenever we stay in our heads, we miss out on what’s happening around us. We don’t live in the present moment. This ends up robbing us of our peace and joy. Jesus desires us to be wherever we are instead of constantly analyzing everything.

Our Sins as a Distraction

I don’t know where you are in your faith journey, but I know each of our journeys are different. I know that for some, they might have come from a pretty rough spot and are trying to live differently. However, their past mistakes and sins keep coming up and make them believe they are not worthy of mercy or love from God. In addition, some feel like their mistakes and sins disqualify them from doing anything good. Because I struggle with this, how can God use me or be calling me to do something good? The answer is, He still is calling you. Recently, when I was before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, I had this thought. Jesus looks at us not based upon our faults but our whole selves and guess what? He delights in you, totally. The enemy or the accuser, as he is called, loves to use our weaknesses and sins to distract us from the love of Jesus and the good Jesus wants us to experience in our lives. Don’t fall for it. If you look at the men Jesus called in Scripture, they were filled with weaknesses and yet Jesus called them. Jesus was actually ridiculed for being a friend of tax collectors and sinners. I don’t know about you but to me that says to me that Jesus is not afraid of our weaknesses and sins but rather He desires to transform us. Let Him transform you and don’t use sin as an excuse to not be who God created you to be.

Comparisons as a Distraction

Oh, this is a biggie. I find that especially in a world where social media is everywhere, it’s very easy to compare ourselves to others. How many likes did she get on that pic? Where did they vacation? We get so used to comparing ourselves to others that we miss our very own lives. We look at others’ lives and try to keep up with whatever they’re doing and yet we miss the beauty in our own life. Let me tell you, Jesus is doing beautiful things with your life. It is not like your friend’s life, but it is still beautiful. Whenever I compare myself to anyone else, I forget how much Jesus has done for me. I must focus intensely on the goodness of my life knowing that He knows what I need and He knows what this person needs, and it’s okay if our needs are different.

The World as a Distraction

If nothing else matters, you must know this. You were made for Heaven. I don’t think we ever think of this. We all want to go to Heaven. However, we probably don’t stop to think that this is what we were created for. This is why you were created. To know, love, and serve God in this life that you may be happy with Him in the next. This is why nothing else satisfies us if we seek to be satisfied by anything else other than God. Our world needs a lot of healing right now. There is much fear and much division. However, I have felt that a lot of things are a distraction from what is really important. At the end of the day, the most important thing is your soul and getting to Heaven. Heaven is eternal. This life is fleeting. We must remember this. Our souls and the souls of others are what matters. It matters not what color you are or what political party you belong to or anything else. We are on a journey together and we must live in such a way that our destination will be Heaven.

So where do you find yourself being the most distracted? Recognize it and seek to focus more intensely on Jesus. Be present in the moment. Receive God’s mercy and love for you. Be grateful for what you have and even for what others have knowing that God provides what is necessary. Live in this world knowing that no matter how hard it gets, we must work for souls knowing that we have a home in Heaven where all will be well.

Stay focused,

Megan