Clarity of Focus

Happy New Year 2020 – the year of Clarity of Focus and 20/20 vision!  You might be wondering why I chose a picture of Crow pose to represent clarity of focus?  Wouldn’t Eagle pose be more representative of vision?  The reason I think of Crow pose is because it wasn’t until an instructor guided me to focus in the proper spot on my mat that I finally was able to hold this pose.  My focus was off, looking inward at my hands instead of outward a little distance in front of me.  Once she told me where to look, I could hold this pose with ease.  It was amazing how a shift in focus could make such a difference!

With the beginning of this new year, last Sunday morning I heard the phrase “Clarity of Focus” twice from two different sources.  When I keep hearing a word or phrase, it gets my attention.  The previous day I was considering to allow fear to lead me in another direction as I have done in the past, keeping me from accomplishing my goals that I feel God has put in my heart.  How often we allow fear to push us around.  In 2 Cor. 13:5 we are told to examine ourselves.  In the 8 limbs of yogic philosophy we find this recommendation in the fourth Nyama, svadhyaya or self-study.

As we begin the new year, we need to examine where is our focus?  Do we need to sharpen your vision?  Do we need to stop looking inward so much and look outward, fixing our focus more on Jesus?

“So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us . ² Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.”  Hebrews 12:1-2 (VOICE)