This is not the post I planned to write today. I’m sure I’m the only one who ever does this (add sarcastic eye roll here), but when I sat down to write I simply COULD NOT organize my thoughts. Even with my title composed, topic firmly in mind, and some initial ideas on paper (or screen), the words seemed to keep their distance.

Do you remember the old Family Circus comic strip by master cartoonist Bill Keane? If you still get a printed newspaper you may still find it in the funny pages! Remember the ones where Mommy would send Billy to complete an assigned task, and he would meander through the family room, stop to stack a few blocks and flip through a comic book, slip into the kitchen for a snack, hop out the back door, bound through the sandbox, take a turn in the swing, spring across the hopscotch court, stop to pet Barfy, and finally return to Mommy, usually having failed to accomplish his appointed undertaking?

That’s the way my mind has been functioning today! My thoughts have flittered from one thing to another, avoiding my every attempt to bring them into order.

What do I need from Wal-mart? I wonder if Marshall’s has a gray cardigan. Is the asparagus still fresh enough for dinner tonight? Is “flitter” a real word? What time should I start the sweet potatoes? I miss my dog. I wonder where mama kitty is hiding her kittens. The sky is so blue today! What was that noise? What kind of bird is that? Has the mail been delivered yet? When will that book I ordered arrive? Where should we hike this weekend? That was such a funny dream! What goodies should I make for Christmas this year? Is it my turn to bring dessert to small group?

You get the picture!

For a while I beat myself up over my distractedness. I walked. I prayed. I took a few minutes to just sit quietly and focus. I turned on some quiet music (a playlist I found called “Music for Writing“). All was to no avail. My thoughts eluded capture, and the words refused to materialize.

In my distraction I actually Googled “distraction,” and on one page found this brief story:

Student: How long will it take me to learn enlightenment?

Master: Five years.

Student: What if I try real hard?

Master: Ten years.

This rings of truth! It seems the harder we try to “un-distract” ourselves, the harder it is to find that place of focus and concentration.

I wish I could say that only my writing life is affected by this malady, but in truth, EVERY area of my life is affected at one time or another. My home responsibilities, my relationships, my thought life, my prayer life—all seem to suffer at times from this mental commotion. 

A former Worship Pastor of mine, one of the most humble and wisest men I’ve ever known, once made this suggestion with regard to distraction in prayer: Rather than fighting against it and getting frustrated, why not try following the distraction in prayer? It could be that the Holy Spirit is governing your thoughts to direct your prayers. Or if it is the enemy causing your mind to stray, well, phooey on him! Pray anyway! (I’m sure my pastor friend said it much more eloquently than I just did.)

When I’m trying to pray and my mind wanders to what I’m preparing for dinner that night: “God, thank You for providing food for us, and for the sweet conversations we have around the table as we enjoy it.” 

If I start mulling over my to-do list for the day: “God, help me to order my day for Your honor and glory. Give me strength to do the things on my list today. Help me to use my time well.” 

Or if my thoughts turn to a person, praying for that person, friend or foe. 

If I begin contemplating the flying banana named Sebastian that I dreamed about last night….Well, sometimes you have to be creative.

I find myself wondering if this strategy would work in my writing as well, taking the time to write about my distracting thoughts rather than trying to force the words that I earnestly want to flow. I think I’ll go try it now.

There once was a winged banana whose name was Sebastian….

Is it simply me? Or do you sometimes become frustratingly hindered by your own distractions? What strategies have you found for dealing with annoying preoccupation? Try the method above when you’re praying and let me know how it goes!