Tunnel Vision

Today, on my way to work, I was seated on a packed U-bahn with a student standing in the aisle next to me. He had on a filled backpack that stuck out about half a meter. He was not holding onto the rail and was completely engrossed in a video game that he was playing on his phone. The ride was not the smoothest, so he was continually jerked back and forth. At one point, he almost smacked the passenger who was seated across from me in the face. Another time, he stepped on my husband’s foot, as he had found a seat across the aisle from me. At yet another stop, I had to put up my hands to protect my own face from getting hit. I sat there laughing, as did my husband and the man across from me. This middle school-aged boy was completely oblivious to everyone else around him. He had no idea that he was almost taking out a whole row of passengers by himself!

This scenario got me thinking about how we can sometimes become so absorbed with our own lives that we miss what God is doing around us. We can become so focused on our own problems that we cannot even see all the good within our grasp. During this time of COVID, many people have become depressed because they are not able to socialize as they have in the past. We have had to become more creative in how we reach out to people. Churches have been broadcasting their services or holding them virtually. Some are using more small groups to allow people to have personal contact. I’ve participated in more Zoom, Skype, and Google meetings in the last six month than previously in my life. Teachers and students have been using Google classroom to ensure continuous communication. The list could go on.

Even so, many are having a hard time not becoming self-absorbed. Sometimes, the best way to get out of this funk is to focus on the needs of others. When we see what others are struggling with, it helps us to put things into perspective. It also provides us with an outlet to “overflow” into their lives with the abundance of blessings that have been showered upon us.

When it came time for us to exit the U-bahn after this crazy ride, this boy who was so involved in his video game looked up briefly with a confused look on his face. He had no idea where we were or if he was supposed to get off. In the end, he stayed on the U-bahn. I hope he hadn’t missed his stop because he was so engrossed in that tiny screen. Let us not become like this boy, who placed his full attention on one little tiny picture, but let us look to the needs of others. When we do so, people will give glory to God.

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon C. Brobst, Director

Philippians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.