...don't think about a red car

we've all been there...

in order to make a point about concentration or focus...
a teacher, parent or speaker has said to us...
"don't think about a red car..."
generally followed by a period of frustration...
when we realize that a red car is ALL we can think of...

"unless", the teacher/parent/speaker will go on to say...
"you focus on something else..."
which was their whole point from the beginning...

to avoid focusing on that which has our attention...
we must find something else to focus on instead...
only then, will the "red car" fade away...

learning to truly trust God can be like that...

He tells us to leave our sins and troubles with Him...
but most of us have trouble letting go...
maybe not of every thing, but of some things...

things we feel especially guilty about...
or want to,"fix"...
or don't really want to let go of, because we like them...
or are afraid to let go because we fear change...



and even though we have every intention of letting go...
we hold on... to the guilt, the failure, the shame, the fear...

fear of all He may ask us to endure or give up...
fear of stepping into the unknown in faith...
fear of losing something or someone we love...
fear of failing to please God and then being alone...

where we are may hurt, but we know that pain...
what's out there may be worse...
so we hold on... and continue to suffer...
instead of letting go and trusting in God's goodness...



sometimes, we can allow the problems and pain...
to just slip through our fingers...
only to find bits of it still stuck to us...
requiring active brushing away to remove all remnants...



and sometimes we've let it go...
but sit and watch it... waiting...
as if to retain some control...
over that which we didn't ever control to begin with...
serving only to continue our focus on this,"red car"...

the solution ?

as in the classroom exercise, find something else to think about...



this is a good place to start...

focusing on God will not only put the "red car of pain" out of your mind...
but the more you spend time with God, focusing on His goodness & forgiveness...
the more you can trust Him and let Him take you down His path...
where ever that may lead...



obedience will take you down the path, but faith opens the gate...

"Jesus, the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills my breast...
but sweeter far, Thy face to see, and in Thy presence, rest..."
[Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153]