Focus
“Are you going to meet the president?”
“What do you think President Trump is going to say?”
“Would you shake his hand?”
These are the types of questions I’ve been getting from just about everyone for the last couple of weeks. When I’ve mentioned I’m attending the National Prayer Breakfast, everyone has immediately fixated on President Trump and any interactions I may or may not have with him. Typically, my answers have been (in order): “Probably not,” “Whatever he wants,” and “Well, that’s complicated.”
As I received more of these questions, they began to shape my own perception of this gathering. I found myself obsessed with what the president might say, and how I might react. I played scenarios in which my students and I might meet the president over and over in my head. I imagined the trouble I might cause—or the heat I might bring on my school—if I handled something indelicately.
What a colossal waste of my time. What an unfortunate moment where I gave the worst part of my nation exactly what it wants.
America needs to be the center of attention. Because of her influence—what some would reasonably call supremacy—she is used to filling up most of the air in the room. Her politics matter; her sports matter; her media matters; her presidents matter, perhaps most of all.
Given this, I’m not surprised that everyone I’ve told about this event would ask—always first and foremost—about the president. I very much understand why most Americans would assume the president would be the focus of any gathering he attends, including the National Prayer Breakfast. It’s simply how we’ve been trained: if the United States—particularly the president, especially this president—is involved, that deserves all the attention.
I’m honestly a bit embarrassed that I allowed myself to forget the real focus of this gathering: Jesus Christ.
More than embarrassed, I’m actually angry with myself. I know better. I literally spend my free time writing about how the Kingdom of God is infinitely better than my country. Yet all it took was one trip to Washington, D.C. for me to get swept up in America’s pageantry. I wasted time fretting over how I would navigate meeting the president when I could have spent my days before this trip connecting more deeply with my Lord.
Thankfully, God is gracious. He was kind enough to shake me out of my brief American obsession so that I might fully appreciate this unique moment. Specifically, he did this through a meeting we had yesterday with two men deeply connected with the running of the Prayer Breakfast. As I listened to these men share with our students, they kept hammering the point I needed to hear: it’s all about knowing Jesus. Not just following a creed; not just gathering in fellowship; not just reading the Word of God: it’s about knowing Jesus.
They even helpfully reminded me that our Lord made this clear. In the beginning, God created everything so that we might know and relate with him. When God sought to reconcile his creation to himself he didn’t do it merely through sound doctrine: he sent his son. When Jesus defined eternal life as recorded in the gospel of John, his prayer was that we may know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” From creation through eternity the point has, is, and will always be for us to know our God, as we are known by him.
The trick is remembering this each and every day. Most everything about our world—and especially about the United States—tries to distract us from knowing more of Jesus. America needs to be the center of attention, and most of her creations inherit this trait. Her news, her politics, her apps will consume all of us if we allow it.
Yes, the things of this world need some of our attention. We cannot be the hands and feet of Jesus if we are not aware of our reality. Another post at another time can unpack the need for our relationship with Jesus to drive us to real, concrete action.
But before all that: where is our focus? Are we coddling the petulant child America sometimes seems to be by giving her all the attention she demands? Or are we seeking every day—first and foremost—to better know Jesus Christ, whom God has sent?
I know the choice I want to make. Lord, help me choose you afresh today.