The magic of misdirection
About this time every year, I get a bit nostalgic for a moment and think about my summers as a child. My mom did her best to keep my sister and me busy and occupied most of the summer, which usually meant a whole variety of camps and activities. Among the most memorable for me was a day camp I attended when I was 9 or 10 years old at the local community college called All About Magic.
Each day, we practiced various shuffling techniques and learned new card tricks. We discovered how much magic could be done with a few everyday objects and some very intentional sleight of hand. It was pretty entertaining for this curious kid.
Among the most important lessons we were taught that week was the art of misdirection. Getting your audience to look at something over here… so they won’t notice what might be going on over there. It’s the key element to most, if not all, magic tricks. The magician diverts the participant’s attention toward something inconsequential but mesmerizing… so they don’t notice the more important action going on elsewhere.
That got me thinking about how often we get pulled into misdirection in our own lives. We occupy ourselves with something over there… so we don’t really have to think about what’s happening right here.
Whenever I’m stressed or anxious… I keep myself busy with menial tasks so I don’t have to think about what’s really on my mind. My to-do list is never longer than when I’m contemplating a big decision. Or my house is never cleaner than when I know I need to finish a project or tend to an important conversation.
We have this human tendency to keep busy or distracted, thinking it will somehow make those more difficult aspects of our lives more manageable. We fall into a trap of our own misdirection… focusing our thoughts and energies on all the wrong things.
I was reminded a few weeks ago of one of my favorite words of scripture, taking place as the Israelites are fleeing Pharoah and his army. They get stuck at the edge of the Red Sea, and begin to panic about what they’ll do next. I imagine them trying to make all sorts of plans, taking things into their own hands. Redirecting their anger or frustration at Moses or God or even each other. They were focused on anything other than their faith in this God of theirs who had provided for them every step of the way.
That’s when Moses reminds the people, “The Lord will fight for you, and you need only to keep still.” (Exodus 14:14). No to-do lists. No sense of panic or focusing on other things that don’t really matter. Just the gentle reminder that God is still there with them. All they have to do is stop looking all around and be still.
From time to time… we’re all tempted to stay busy or distracted, to look over there… rather than focusing on what’s right in front of us. In those moments, may you feel the peace of God gently redirect you. The Lord will guide you, and you need only to keep still.
