Out of Sight, Out of Mind

The things that we miss the most are usually those that have been constantly before us for a time. It might be a clothing item that has been your favorite, a trusted friend that you spent time with everyday, or a t.v. show that you have grown accustomed to watching. When any of these things are taken out of the path of your attention, your attachment to them fades until the point that you rarely think of them at all. This reality is why people have such strong reactions when that item, person, or show is initially taken away.

This reality is why we should have no trouble relinquishing our mind's hold on the negative things. Take for example the person who ruined your day. She walked in the room with a bad attitude and even worse news. She placed it in your lap like a child who belonged in the arms of his mother. She lingered long enough to infect you with her dreadful outlook on love and life. The moment she left you should have been the moment that you allowed your attachment to the negative spirit to fade. You didn't. You rehearsed her words. You rehearsed her mannerisms. You rehearsed the news that she placed securely in your lap. You rehearsed so much that the spirit of negativity became your favorite companion.

That was five years ago. She hasn't been in your presence, but the present that she left you that day has stayed at the forefront of your mind. Many times you have wanted to let go of it, but the fear of not having that spirit haunts your mind. You know if you allow yourself to forgive her for the moment, the negativity will die and fade away into the past.

So you continue to split time between asking God to release you and doing your best to let the spirit of negativity remain on your mind. At some point you convince yourself that God would have freed you from it if He wanted you to be released. But how can He free you from the thing that you work so hard to continue to see?

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;

    fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet

    and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;

    keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27