Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 3

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 3

Rabbit Trails…

I receive some lengthy articles from an on-line publication I subscribed to about one year ago. Every article is foot noted, and where applicable, the author will include a link to resources and references. This can be quite interesting and helpful. It can also prove to be a distraction.

I find that following the links can lead me far away from the article itself. I find that when I follow one link, it seems to lead to another, and another, and another… I start out reading about the Christian History of the United States, and somehow I end up reading about George Washington’s tailor’s eye doctor. (I made that up…) Even though I know what may happen, it seems that I can’t help myself – I have to click on that blue symbol.

This is known as a “rabbit trail”. The term is used to describe what happens when we have intention to travel along a certain path, and deviate from that path because we become distracted. Rabbit Trails were a significant part of our discussion in class this past week. In fact, the discussion itself was a Rabbit Trail, and was evidence that some Rabbit Trails can be good. Often, they are not…

We have looked at the instruction of scripture “to “work out ” our salvation. We have seen in Hebrews 12:1 & 2 that we must “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. To do this, we must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”. We have discussed the need for “intentional” living in this regard. This way of living does not come naturally to any of us, and our enemy the devil, knows this. He is masterful at distracting us and leading us down rabbit trails. When he is successful in this endeavor, the cause of Christ suffers, and consequently, so does the culture.

Do you hear the giant sucking sound?

In 1992, the "giant sucking sound" was United States Presidential candidate Ross Perot's colorful phrase for what he believed would be the negative effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which he opposed. The phrase referred to the sound of U.S. jobs heading south for Mexico should the proposed free-trade agreement go into effect.

For the believer, the "giant sucking sound" is the sound of two precious commodities heading south, down the rabbit trails of life. The two precious commodities? Our time and our minds…

Have you noticed how busy everyone is? It seems that everyone in this culture lives life at a furious pace, with little time for the things that really matter. This is true of the culture in general, and all too often, it is true of believers as well. Do you find it difficult to “find” the time for regular and frequent quiet time which includes Bible study and prayer? How about that neighbor or work associate you have been meaning to reach out to. You know – the one you haven’t called because you just don’t have the time to do so. (Or maybe you could find the time to make the call, but you know that you don’t have the time to actually get together with them.) How about that note of encouragement you’ve been meaning to write, but can’t seem to find the time to do it? Sometimes we fall victim to a false truth claim regarding time. The false truth claim is that we “find time”.

Twenty four hours in a day. Seven days in a week. One hundred and sixty eight hours in a week. Here’s a rabbit trail you can follow for a while: Start looking for time. See if you can find an extra hour each day, so that you have 25 hours to use, instead of the 24 the rest of us have. You and I both know that you can’t find time – you can only take time. In other words, you make choices regarding what you will do with the 168 hours you are given each week.

Now I know that there are some areas in life where we really don’t have a choice about how we will use our time. If you work outside the home, your employer probably tells you when to start and when to end each work day, right? But when we start to look closely, we will see that there is quite a bit of time available each week where we get to choose the activities which fill up our time. What about those early morning hours before the work day begins? What about those evening hours after the work day ends? What about weekends?

I believe that every believer who wishes to live life as we are called to live it, running the race we are called to run, must look closely at how he or she chooses to use their time. When I look at my life (and I encourage you to examine yours), and when I look at the lives of those around me, I realize that there are a number of “rabbit trails” which suck the time out of our lives. Keep in mind the meaning of “rabbit trail” – “what happens when we have intention to travel along a certain path, and deviate from that path because we become distracted.”

For the believer, the path we are to follow is marked out for us, but there are a number of things which can cause us to wander far off the path. Too many activities, too much entertainment, too much technology – these are just a few examples of areas of life where we can tend to use our time and our minds in ways that lead us away from Christ rather than toward Him.

As I write these words, I am reminded of two things. First, I am reminded of how easily I can be distracted from keeping my eyes on Jesus. Second, I am reminded of my changing perspective on time as I get older. As I approach my 59th birthday, I find myself more and more aware of the precious gift of the time God has granted to me. As always, scripture says it best:




PSALM 90

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."

4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-

6 though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.

8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.

10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span [a] is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.

In Christ –
John