Living Distraction to Distraction

I have noticed a trend around me over the past ten years or more.  I have watched so many with problems that need to be faced in order to be overcome, but, instead of knocking down that wall, they choose to leave that wall standing and climb over a different wall.

Have you ever done that?  I have!  Most of the time, mine shows up in the form of rearranging a clean room in my house, rather than cleaning the messy room.  (Surely, I'm not the only one to ever do that!)

But for some, it is FAR bigger than that.


I have seen too many men and women with a problem in their marriage not work on the issue, but to take their time and energy and put it into other things less important.  I see them looking for a new job, moving into a new home, pursuing a hobby, activities for the kids, and even serving or going to activities at the church. 

At a glance, that list of distractions looks like what could be every day life!  And chances are, we have all done at least one of them at some point in our lives.  They are not necessarily bad things; in fact, some are really good things!

I have even found myself distracting myself from my own issues by helping others with theirs!  

But when we ignore the problems and fill our days up with other things, the problems remain.  We all know that ignoring them does not help to solve them!  I heard my friend, Dawn, say it this way:  "Avoiding the problem does not FIX it."

In fact, it can be quite depressing to avoid something for a time, only to realize it is still there after the distraction is over!

Sometimes, we just have to confront that which is painful in order to stop the pain altogether.  Instead of distracting ourselves from the pains of life, let's face them. When we meet that wall head-on, let's press through it!


So how about you?  Have you found yourself seeking after something to help you avoid something else?  Tell me in the comments!