THE FINISH LINE…..RUNNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Here's some fun for the day…….

TRIVIA:
What is the only nations that borders both Pakistan and Bangladesh?

OPTICAL ILLUSION
Stare at the object and see if it starts to shimmer and move.   Try staring at the center and then try staring at the outside ring.  (I'm convinced it must be spinning.  haha)

JOKE:
Q:  Why does a moon-rock taste a little better than an Earth-rock?
A:  Because it's a little meteor


QUESTION TO PONDER:
When you open a bag of cotton balls, is the top one supposed to be thrown away?


COMIC FUN:

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:

Through our difficulties we develop greater levels of compassion for those around us

THE FINISH LINE….RUNNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

I recently finished Andy Stanley's book called "Louder Than Words".   There were many parts of the book I enjoyed and I thought I'd share one of those today.   One of the stories Andy Stanley mentioned in this book was the story of German Silva and the 1994 New York Marathon.

German Silva #10, Benjamin Paredes #24

Silva was born in an impoverished area of rural Mexico.   He had trained for years along with his friend Benjamin Paredes who was running the race as well.    Together they had assumed control of the race at the 23-mile mark.   Stride for stride, they matched each other through Central Park.

Silva felt he held the upper hand because if it came down to a sprint, he was the faster runner.    As he neared the final stretch, he began to ease ahead of Paredes.   Just ahead of Silva was a camera car that was setting the pace.   Silva focused on the back of the vehicle and steadily increased his lead.

With a few hundred yards to go, the car left Central Park South and made a right turn into the 7th Avenue entrance of the park.   Silva followed close behind.   Suddenly the cheers of the crowd turned to alarm.   Silva soon realized that he was going the wrong way.  The car he was following had turned off the course in order to clear a path for the finish line.   

Silva had given Paredes a 50-yard advantage.   He managed to catch up and crossed the finish line first with the smallest lead in the marathon's history, beating Paredes by less than 2 seconds.  

Andy Stanley makes the point that Silva was physically superior to his opponents, mentally focused and well prepared for the race.    But…..for a few seconds, he put all his focus in the wrong direction and it nearly cost him the race.

Life is race.  Everybody runs.  But it's not enough to run hard.  You've got to run in the right direction.

Define your personal finish line or you could find yourself winning a race you never intended to run.

Define what is really important in life.   Keep your focus on what is real and what is truly meaningful.   When you focus on the wrong thing….you just might end up losing the race.


===============


TRIVIA ANSWER:
India


Until next time……..

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?

Here's some fun for the day........

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)
What is the world's smallest continent?

BRAIN TEASER: (answer below)
You have 2 normal U.S. coins that add up to 35 cents.   One of the coins is not a 
quarter.   How is this possible?

JOKE:
Q:  What happens when two potatoes get married?
A:   They have tater tots.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs?   Rabbits don't lay eggs.

COMIC FUN:

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
During difficulties confidently continue to praise God.  Then, wait to see how He makes all things work together for good.

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?

I was taking a picture of my dog the other day and it got me thinking about how cameras have changed over the years. 

  (here's the pic.  I call it 'Maddie watching the world go by')

I may have to do an 'evolution of cameras through time' post in the future.   Could be interesting.    It's definitely much easier for a non-camera buff like me to take pictures these days.  I just hold up my phone and 'presto', I can take a pic.   I don't have to worry about film or a flash bulb.   

As I focused in on Maddie (my dog) I was reminded of something I read in a Mark Batterson book called "Primal".    He talked about what he called a 'focusing illusion'.    

In our daily lives, do we focus more on what we have or what we don't have?    It's a good question to ask ourselves. Depending on our answer to that question, we either have more gratitude in our lives or more greed.   It depends on our focus.    

If I was plopped down in the middle of the Mall right now, I could look around and see lots of things I want.  I could easily fall into a greedy perspective.  Similarly  if I was plopped down in the middle of a third world country right now, my perspective would be completely different.   I would be much more aware of how many blessings I have.   I would begin to focus more on my gratitude.  The tricky part for us is keeping that gratitude perspective each day.  It's easy to lose it when we lose our focus.   

Here's a few questions from the book that may help in regards to finding out where your own focus lies.   They're good questions for each of us to ask ourselves on a regular basis. 

FOCUS QUESTIONS:

Are you focused on what you have or what you don't have? (that is the difference between gratitude and greed)

Are you focused on this life or the next?  ( that is the difference between stinginess and generosity)

Are you focused on your wants or other's needs  (that is the difference between selfishness and compassion.   It's also the difference between unhappiness and joy)

I would add another question to the mix.   One I try to be mindful of and keep in check.  

Are you focusing on the positive in your life or the negative?

I know many people are going through some pretty rough stuff and it's difficult to find the positive.   But it is there.  You have to be intentional in making sure you don't lose your focus in that regard.   

There is something you are blessed with in life that you may be taking for granted.   

What are we taking for granted?  It could be health, could be family, or it could be something as simple as being able to get in car and drive across town.   There's plenty of people in the world that can't do that for a variety of reasons.  Maybe they are too sick.  Maybe they are financially unable to do that.    You have blessings.   Be purposeful about identifying them.     


Mark Batterson makes this point in his book:

As your focus changes, your perspective changes.    As your perspective changes, your life will change.    You might find yourself in the same circumstances, but your heart will change.    A change in heart will change your motivations and your expectations.



Your focus determines your reality.


Take a moment today to ask yourself:   Where are you pointing your 'camera'?  In other words.......

Where is your focus?



When you focus on your wants, enough is never enough.   When you focus on eternity, you have everything you need.


Romans 10: 9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

TRIVIA ANSWER:
Australia

BRAIN TEASER:
You have a dime and a quarter.  ( one of the coins is not a quarter.  The dime is not a quarter)


Until next time..........