There have been many issues and topics arise that I’ve felt led to write about, but the time just hasn’t been available to do justice to any of them. Not only do I have the on-going work and service related obligations, but dear wife Alicia following her hip replacement surgery has needed my support, transportation and general care these last few weeks … and I cannot be a slacker in this area.
Hence, I am again going to turn to my pastor and friend, Reverend Mark Adams, Senior Pastor of Redland Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland, for another of his messages … and I think you’ll agree that this one is more timely and appropriate than ever, at least as our living in the “real world” is concerned:
Reports of injuries to distracted walkers treated at hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the past seven years. About 1,152 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms in the U.S. last year for injuries suffered while walking and using a cell phone or some other electronic device. That’s likely an underestimate, because some patients may not mention they were using a cell phone or other device at the time they were injured.
Some of the cases include:
- A 24-year-old woman who walked into a telephone pole while texting;
- A 28-year-old man who was walking along a road when he fell into a ditch while talking on a cellphone;
- A 12-year-old boy who was looking at a video game when he was clipped by a pickup truck as he crossed the street;
- A bicyclist who was talking on his cellphone and ran into a 67-year-old pedestrian;
- A California man who was texting his boss and nearly strolled into the path of a 400-pound black bear. The distracted texter was only a few feet away when he looked up, saw the bear, and ran.
One news outlet offered the following advice: “Texting while walking is less dangerous than texting while driving…but as [the story about the black bear] demonstrates, it is always a good idea to keep aware of your surroundings.”
This is useful advice for us as we walk along on the Christian journey, for there are so many distractions that can impede our progress: temptations, worries, fears, pleasures, not to mention the pressures of trying to go against the flow of our fallen culture. All of these things can cause us to get off course as Christ-followers.
Paul warns us of this in Hebrews 12:1 when he says, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith.”
…or as I like to put it:
Keep the SON in your eyes!
© 2014 Mark Adams
