Sometimes I really get distracted.

Last Friday, I etched out a few hours in my evening to get in the car and head to Peet’s coffee shop to specifically focus on the beginning stages of writing my second book.

 I was totally organized. I had my favorite journal in hand, my favorite pen, plenty of cash for coffee and a few hours of free time. I had one goal in mind…to get started on this book. And so, I set out. I was also determined to not let anything get me distracted. Anything.

So I arrived at Peet’s, got my drink in hand and set out for the corner table of the coffee shop. My usual table was taken by some guy. Didn’t he know that table was my table, my favorite writing spot because it was far in the corner, far away from any distractions? Apparently not because he didn’t move.

So I found another corner table that faced the front door and I sat down. I set my drink down, got out my pen, my brand-new journal and my Bible and set out to start working on this book on mercy. And then everything started backfiring.

My cell phone informed me that I got a text message. So….I had to check it. And I had to answer back. And then I got another one. And I had to respond because you know, I don’t want to be rude or anything. And then the door of the coffee shop opened and someone walked in and then someone else walked out and then someone else walked in and someone else walked out. And then I heard a really interesting conversation that I just felt compelled to listen to it. I sure was born with a healthy dose of curiousity and I always feel compelled to “people watch.” Over just a span of a few minutes, my productive goals had really taken a nose dive and I was distracted. In a big way.

But tonight wasn’t supposed to be this kind of night. I wasn’t supposed to be distracted by anything. I was supposed to get my nose to the grindstone and WORK.

The more I tried to work, the more distracted it seemed I became. I was frustrated. Why does this happen when I specifically plan on being so productive?

Because this kind of thing always happens to me when I am determined to be productive and I have a few theories why.

Maybe it’s because in my determination to be so productive, I try so hard that I set my standards too high. I can’t achieve the level of productiveness that I visualize so anything below my expectations feels like a failure, even when it really isn’t. I also think maybe that Satan gets into my productiveness and tries to mess me up by distracting me. Maybe it’s a combination of the two.

That night, instead of fighting my distractions, I welcomed them. I quickly prayed and asked God to help me re-focus. And He did. I stopped obsessing about how unproductive I felt like I was being and I just started writing and outlining. If I got distracted, that was ok. I just re-focused and got back on track. I stopped worrying about production and just let my thoughts and my pen flow. And it worked.

 By the end of my evening, I had outlined and dreamt and planned a lot more for this book than I had before I arrived there. Even if I wasn’t as productive as I had wanted to be, I still got some things done and that was the most important thing. I had made progress.

Do you ever get distracted? Do you get discouraged when it happens?

There are times when all of us get distracted. We set these lofty goals and we do not anywhere close in achieving them. And we feel like a failure. But we are not.

For when we get distracted, we just need to refocus our plans and our thoughts and our dreams back on Jesus. He’ll steer us right, He’ll re-focus our thoughts, He’ll give us clear direction.

We also need to remember that even in our distractions, we can still do great things and accomplish a lot. We just have to remember to give ourselves a break and lower our expectations. Let our creative juices flow and breathe. Breathe deeply. Pray deeply. Re-focus. And most imporantly, ask God to help you. And He will. I promise!

So know when you get distracted, remember my friend, are not alone! I get distracted sometimes, too.

And this Friday night, I’ll be back at Peet’s to do the same thing all over again, only this time I hope “my” table is free.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {Hebrews 12:2)