Keeping Our Focus

Keeping our focus in a world filled with distractions can be challenging and devastating depending upon one’s focus guiding their path. As Stephen Richards wrote, “Our way of thinking creates good or bad outcomes.” The selected text is from God concerning the people to beware of things evil and to keep the attentiveness of their lives lest they go astray off the focused direction, given from Him. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). 

Our partners in leadership roles continue to be focused on the projected vision with an atmosphere of trust with partners they lead. PruittHealth communicates with all partners through Town-Hall meetings in matters of great concern such as the COVID-19 pandemic virus with a well thought out plan regarding our service of care and the tools/equipment needed to keep partners safe while continuing to provide first-rate healthcare. This chaplain is reminded of Nehemiah as an example (Nehemiah 1:1-7:73), he was a courageous servant of God who served as a cupbearer for the King Artaxerxes of Persia.

The city of Jerusalem had been destroyed during the three carrying away stages of the 10,000 of the brightest and most promising of the Jewish nation of the Hebrews and pilfering objects of priceless Sacred treasures. Other Hebrews were left behind to farm and manage things, but many were later exiled to the River Chebar outside the city of Babylon.

Nehemiah had been informed how the city was decaying in waste having no fortification due to the walls being in rubble. He knew the city needed its walls for protection through God’s original intentioned favor to keep His people out of harm from their enemies including wild animals. Nehemiah had authority and protection from the King by God’s providence, to obtain the materials to erect the ruined walls.

He surveyed the city by night and kept his focus by planning and building those walls within his mind of what is needed to accomplish the construction. He received the trust of the people by graciously sharing the vision which encouraged them, and they were no longer in a disorganized ease but rather motivated and were equipped by Nehemiah’s being a transformational/servant leader who took the time to hear the people concerning their wellbeing and fears.

The people were heard concerning their ideas and feelings and became positively determined. Nehemiah shared his values by his leadership style by “modeling the way” and inspired them with the shared vision and values which uplifted the people having a mind to work—and up went the wall! Each Pruitt partner is also a leader within their own area of influence. Like Nehemiah, we too have obstacles in our pathways and need to know what our focus is and where its heading. As we continue looking directly forward having our gaze fixed straight before us. God is blessing us as we strive to keep our focus balanced.