Selective Neglect…What Not to Do

It has been a long stay at home season for me.  I made some decisions of what I would do and wouldn’t do.

One decision I made was to walk each day.  I think I have only missed 2 days.  I have been walking between 2 ½ - 3 miles a day.  It clears my mind and refreshes my spirit.

When we make choices to do a certain thing, we must make a decision to not do something else.  This last week I read a story of a young violinist, the youngest to ever play at Carnegie Hall.  She rocked it, got a standing ovation, and was led giddy from the stage to the pressroom.

“How did you get so good on the violin at such a young age?” the Reporter asked.

“Selective neglect”, said the young girl, “I neglected everything else, except the violin.”

Anyone who is good at something gets there through selective neglect.  They assign worth to the thing they do and neglect everything else.  We each do the same thing.  We neglect friends, sports, family and free time.  We neglect spouses, hobbies, exercise, sleep, kids, just to name a few.  The irony is that what’s selectively neglected is often more valuable than what’s worshipped.  It doesn’t matter how good you are; there’ll always be someone better.

Jesus said this:  “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  Matthew 16:26

Our soul is our personality – our unique life on this earth.  If your life is a dollar, what are you spending it on?  Is it worth It?  In the end, it is all about intentionality.

Time seems to be flying during this season we are in. So what are we choosing to value and what are we neglecting during the “Covid19” time frame?  We can’t do everything.  Lord, help us to be selective…to be doing the things that will honor you.

So if you choose to be committed to what God’s best is, what are you going to stay focused on?  Who or what will you leave behind?  There is wisdom in having a “not to do” list.  Make one and be intentional in your selective neglect.  During this time evaluate what really matters, what will stand the test of time, or what is of eternal treasure to lay at the feet of Jesus.  Then you will have a healthy, well nourished, refreshed soul along the way.

Closing thought/question:  Are you selectively neglecting the right things?  Are you selectively prioritizing the things that will matter forever?

Pastor Dan Shinabarger
Connections Pastor