12 DECEMBER 2023

 

Focus

“He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.” (Luke 1:51)

Author M. Scott Peck wrote “we are all born narcissists” meaning we would prefer to be heard than listen, seen than see people and be loved instead of loving others. (Check out FaceBook posts if you don’t believe me!)

This attitude is deeply ingrained in us and as Peck says, the path to spiritual growth is learning how “to grow out of our narcissism.”

Mary says the “proud” have an attitude or mindset that is preoccupied with themselves, but it only results in them being humbled by God.

Another good word for this “mindset” is focus. Proud people focus only on themselves, but the focus of humble people is God and others.

Christmas is a great opportunity for us to shift our focus away from ourselves and as we do this, we begin to discover the life-changing gift of simplicity.

The old, well known Shaker poem describes it beautifully:

“'Tis the gift to be simple
'Tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down
Where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves
In the place just right
'Twill be in the valley
Of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend
We shall not be ashamed
To turn, turn
Will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning
We come round right.”

Giving your time serving at a charity’s community Christmas lunch for the lonely or donating items to Christmas hampers for the needy are just two practical ways you can shift the focus away from yourself this Christmas.

And as the poem says, shifting our focus “will be our delight” and as we turn, “we come ‘round right!”

Brainstorm with family or friends about practical ways you can focus on others this Christmas and then try to do one of them. After that, share with each other what the experience was like for you.