Occupy Yourself

We are generally preoccupied with many things - not necessarily bad things; actually, often it's really good things! Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, suffered from a "preoccupation" with things. You will recall after Jesus' arrest Peter was preoccupied with keeping quiet his identity and relationship to Jesus; a few hours earlier, Peter was preoccupied with refusing Jesus' attempt to wash his feet! Peter's attentiveness to the visible and present circumstances overcame him, and he missed Jesus' in-the-moment. Before any of us think too harshly of Peter, let's consider how we some of our own preoccupations. Paul wrote, "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18, ESV). If we are honest, we too are particularly attentive to what is temporal and fading while negligent of what is lasting and eternal. This older-me is reminded every day of how my physical strength is diminishing; in His wisdom, God says "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2, ESV). The focus of our days here should be preoccupied with that which endures long beyond these earthly moments. "Things above" - a good way to begin every day ... occupy yourself.