Focus on him

I think it is safe to say that our world is in commotion. Every day there is something different in the news that can cause people to fear and have an increase in anxiety. Things that we were told to do yesterday, we are now being told not to do. And the increase in violence and hate crimes seems to be growing exponentially. Social media is filled with posts of what people “should” be doing or how they “should” be responding to all this commotion. There are also posts that condemn people for any and all actions they may be taking as they try to cope with this changed world.

In fact, speaking of our day, Luke said, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:25-26)

How is a person supposed to find their way and to move forward in this crazy world? How do we keep our hearts from failing and our minds from being in distress? Simply focus on Christ. This thought reminds me of a story found in the book of John, chapter 8.

It was early in the morning, and Jesus had gone to the temple. The second verse tells us that “all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.”

While he is teaching, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman who was taken in adultery and put her in the middle of all these people. They accuse her of committing adultery, and not only that, but they explain she was taken in the “very act.”

It takes two to commit adultery, so that lends the question of who the other participant was. But that is for another time and discussion. They were accusing her of what she was doing. Was her crime serious? Well, according to the law of Moses, it was so serious that she could be stoned.

I’ve always thought Jesus’ response was so beautiful.

Verse 6 says, “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.”

There has been much discussion among religious scholars about what He wrote on the ground. We don’t know what it was, and I’m not sure what He wrote on the ground is actually what matters. While the people were staring and pointing at this woman and then Jesus knelt down and started writing in the dirt. It’s almost as if He was meeting her at her level and saying, “I will be in this mess with you.”

If I was in the crowd and my focus was on this woman and then I saw Jesus kneel on the ground and start writing in the dirt, my focus would immediately change. As humans we are easily distracted and naturally curious. What is so important about this scene is that Jesus took the attention off the woman. In a way, I believe He is taking all the criticism, shame, guilt and accusations on himself in this moment.

This act lends to everyone paying close attention to Him and then He makes the statement that convicts us all, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then he stoops down again and writes on the ground.

There are probably countless lesson from this exchange between Christ, the people and the woman. Lessons like being in holy places early in the day, how He meets us where we are, and how we do not have to immediately address those who find fault. However, I just can’t help but think about how important His stooping down is. In this act, He is saying, “Stop looking around you to condemn others and find sin. Pay attention to me.”

When we look to Him, we are reminded who we are, who others are, and that even if we have committed serious sin, it does not disqualify us from receiving His grace.

During this time of commotion and chaos, I invite you to focus on Him and not what others are doing. He is the only place we will find peace and strength.

Ginny Hale teaches professionally for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a seminary teacher in Anchorage. She lives in Wasilla with her family and loves hiking and gardening.