I Am Focused

I stood in the center of our rental house and surveyed the “in your face” dark blue walls of seemingly every room.  As I studied closely, I noticed the homeowner who lived here prior really stunk at painting.  There were blobs of dark blue paint everywhere….the trim, the blinds, the windowsill, the light plates, the ceiling…I sighed.  I didn’t have time for this.  I didn’t want to do this.  But I knew that I couldn’t live with the walls this color.  How does one cover up that much dark blue paint? 
 
I knew one thing:  I could sit and complain about how much I hated it or I could roll up my sleeves, grab a paint brush, and make it better.  Complaining wasn’t going to get the room painted.  So, I grabbed a screwdriver and painter’s tape and started the process of preparing multiple rooms for paint. 
 
My husband joined me in the task as we worked together cleaning and prepping rooms within our home for this large amount of paint work.   We cleaned all areas free of dust and grime, and we scrubbed away areas of splattered paint. We even wiped down the furniture!  We taped off areas and laid plastic, and because I had not done something like that in years, my body was sore! 
 
I realized something important that day.  If we want to improve something, we never just arrive at it without doing the prep work it takes to get there.  And the prep work is where the real work begins.  In all areas of life, no one just “arrives” at the goal.  It requires intent. Focus. Consistency. Persistence. Determination. Grit.
 
What are you focusing on for 2021?  What prep work are you doing to achieve it? Are you ready to stick it out even when it gets hard and the prepping season is lasting way longer than the glory of finally getting to paint?
 
Paul had a bit to say on that when he wrote to the Philippians, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.  But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.  Friends, don’t get me wrong:  By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus.  I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”-Philippians 3:12-14 MSG 
 
Stop complaining.  Stop starting but not finishing.  Stop wanting the goal but not wanting the work it takes to get there.  It’s time for us to press in.  Remember the goal ahead.  Make the most of this day, this week, this month.  Roll up your sleeves.  Pin your hair back.  Intentionally set your eye on the goal ahead.  Dig in.  Do all the prep and do all the work. This year, we are not turning back.  This year, we RUN. 

~ Jamie Keith