Rubbernecking & Life's Traffic Jams.
"If our thoughts and hopes are elsewhere, it is impossible for us to set our faces steadily toward the work required of us." Anonymous
Are you a rubbernecker?
Where are the "traffic jams" in your life?
Where are you slamming on the brakes to focus on others?
While out on my run along the beautiful San Francisco Bay this morning I had to dodge a few people on the path in front of me because they suddenly stopped to watch two women argue. As I ran past the incident I realize how often folks get so focused on others and how they are living that they impede on their own journey through life; not only that, those who rubberneck often get in the way of others on their journey.
According to the California Department of Highways, rubbernecking on a highway is one of the chief causes of traffic delays. Rubbernecking is where drivers slow down to look at accidents or anything out of the ordinary on the highway. Events ranging from car accidents to a police car stopped on the shoulder can cause traffic jams on both sides of the road.
What about rubbernecking on the highway of life?
Blame.
Fear.
Doubt.
Gossip.
Control.
Judging.
Denial.
All these blur one's vision and cause a loss of focus.
Focusing on others is easy and seems to happen almost unconsciously; it almost seems like human nature to involve oneself in the affairs of others. The reality is, it is a conscious decision and it gets in the way of seeing ourselves and watching where we are going.
It takes discipline to focus on oneself and to keep oneself focused on his side of the road of life.When I place focus and divert my attention to others I immediately take the focus off myself and lose my own direction. As a matter of fact, by being so focused on another is a clear indication that I am not focused on myself.
Do you want to know if you are a rubbernecker? It is simple to discover if you are, just ask your self where the traffic jams in your life are. Where are you stalled?
When I have my attention on you, it is not on myself. If my attention is not on myself, I am only wandering aimlessly through life or I am avoiding where God may be attempting to take me.
Rubbernecking impedes my progress, and just like on the highway, rubbernecking often leads to more accidents.
9 Comments:
I'm also noticing of late that if I focus on myself too ardently that also causes "rubber-necking." Sometimes it isn't a matter of an other- or self- focus I need but a positive one that enables a smooth flow of life traffic.
i'm going to ponder this...thanks
Nice analogy. Somethng we all need to hear from time to time, I suspect.
does stopping to read this blog entry count? :)
well written.
Yes, when I get myself so focused on a another person I often miss seeing myself and my flaws and what God is doing in my life.
Rubbernecking is a method of avoiding looking at oneself by diverting our attention the flaws of others.
Brillant metaphor. Rubbernecking. I'm going to have to remember (and follow!) this.
I needed this one. Now I just need to figure out what to do with it...after I finish bagging on a few other people, of course. *grin*
Thanks for the welcome back -- still wanting to do your blog redesign?
HEY! What are YOU lookin at?
hehehe
So, what happens when you're so focused on what's around you, focused on the accidents of others, focused on their screw-ups, and NOT what's happening RIGHT in front of you?
You rear-end someone. You create your own accident. You screw yourself up.
I remember being told in driver's ed that responsible drivers check their mirrors every 5-10 seconds. They are looking at what's on their left, their right, behind them, in front of them, AND their gauges -- all so that they might drive respectfully and courteously with those on the road.
What ever happened to responsible, respectful, and courteous living?
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