Caught Up!

Picture a forest where animals roam. They walk freely in search of food and/or shelter. As they walk, you hear a snap, they are up in a net hanging from a tree. Someone has set a trap, they are now caught up.
Now think about your own life, on your journey. You are focused on what you need to accomplish, where you need to go and all of sudden you become "caught up". The idea of being "caught up" is being distracted, distracted from those things you should be doing. The following are some "caught up" scenarios:

Scenario #1
A young lady has a set of goals. She has a job, but she would like a better job so she decides to go back to school. She is also saving her money because eventually she would like to buy a house. She meets a young man. He is impressed by her focus. He is attracted to her quest for a better life and wants to be apart of that quest. They spend time together, go on dates, then the young man begins to complain about the long hours she's working and time spent at school. He also wants to participate in activities that take her away from work/school and she has to spend money that she should be saving. She likes this guy and wants to spend time with him so she is not at work as much, not studying as much, her grades are in jeopardy. She is not saving her money, but using it to travel and have fun with him.One day she realizes that goals seem further and further away. This young lady has found herself "caught up!" What she needs to know is that you can balance a relationship and goals, but it has to be with someone who respects those goals enough not to get in the way. The person may not be aware of their behavior. Once you bring it to their attention, you will know based on their actions whether or not they respect your goals (see blog post on Selfishness) and if this relationship can continue or will you just give up your goals all together.

Scenario #2
A man who grew up in poverty and watched his mother struggle to make ends meet decides that he will never live like that. He never wanted to be without. So he went to college, eventually got a job that paid well. He works and makes very good money so he is able to purchase all of the things he likes. He has a big house and drives an expensive car. He should be happy, right? Well it seems that he works so often, he is not home long enough to enjoy his house or the things he spent so much money on. He cannot attend family functions because he is always working. His friends stopped calling a long time ago, no longer inviting him to events because he's always working, or tired from always working. A relationship with a woman is out of the question, he doesn't have time to cultivate a relationship. This man is now 45  years old, with money, cars, homes and things but no family, friends or significant other. He has found himself "caught up!" Caught up in making money and missing life. There is more to life than making money and he learned this lesson at the cost of being alone.

Scenario #3
A young lady who has been through it all, hanging out for years. She used to go out to the club every single night. She would meet men and have sex with them a short time after meeting them. Her friends and family tried talking to her, tried to help her see her behavior was not healthy. She was the party girl. Eventually she got to her 30th birthday and realized this is not the life she wanted. A friend who invites her to church every Sunday with her usual response being negative, invites her again. This time she decides to go. The sermon topic is "Get it together," oh how appropriate. It's funny how it seems like the preacher is talking directly to her. Well she heard every word and it resonated in her spirit. When the preacher asked if anyone wanted to give their life to Christ, she immediately stood on her feet and walked to the alter, hands raised to the sky, tears rolling down her cheek. She wanted a new life and she wanted it right then and there. She felt good. She felt renewed. She went home and threw out all of her skimpy clothes, she purchased a bible, read it all of the time. She went to work, telling everyone what happened and how they needed to do the same thing. She went to church every Sunday, she went to bible study and Sunday school. She no longer went out and when her friends called she preached to them how they need to change or they were going to hell. Everywhere she went she preached. She judged her friends and family on their actions. After a while she went to church and when a young lady came to church, who was in a similar situation she was in the year before. She looked at the woman with her face all screwed up, telling her what she wore to church was inappropriate. After all she had done in her life, it is great that she decided to turn her life around, BUT, this young lady has found herself "CAUGHT UP!" Again there is a need for balance. Adjust your life gradually, use your experience to help others, but by no means, is it acceptable to judge others and make them feel less than human.

These are just a few ways people have found themselves "caught up." At one time or another we have all found ourselves "caught up." We let something or someone distract us from our purpose, our goals. When you realize things are off track, step back, asses your situation. Think about what adjustments can and need to be made. How can you turn this around? Take the necessary steps to get back on track. You may have to rethink your priorities. You may make some people upset or uncomfortable. You may find yourself uncomfortable. That's okay. The ultimate goal is for you to be happy, walking in your purpose and not get caught up!