Welcome to our two-week journey through gratitude and the resulting response to give. We’re calling this experience: “Embrace the Journey: Uniting for a Gospel of Welcome” through the Gift of Gratitude that Generates Giving in many different ways.
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins has often said, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” It makes sense, doesn’t it? If my focus is on me, I am all tied up in myself, exhausted by myself. (Believe me, I know what this is.) If I look beyond myself, I see people whom I love, like my grandchildren, as if they were running toward me, and my energy flows towards swooping them up into the air while telling each how much I love them and why. And what happens? My energy grows to where I am caring not only about the people around me but those within my greater world.
Jesus focused on his disciples, the crowds, the sick and demon possessed, even on the Pharisees, and especially on His Father. I do not recall reading about Him ever sitting in a comfy chair, dozing off, nor can I see Him at the kitchen table scratching his forehead, wondering and worrying about His inner world. Can’t even imagine such a thing!
“Where focus goes, energy flows.”
When we feel life is closing in around us, we become too tired to care. Yet, like Jesus, we are to find meaning in every single thing, regardless of what is happening to us. And how did Jesus find meaning in every single thing? He freely gave of Himself. And out of gratitude to Him, we too can experience the one powerful thing that can bring us a feeling of worth when nothing else can — giving freely.
I do not know about you, but it’s time for me to put down my smartphone, set aside my computer, and stop my mind from racing from one activity to the other. It is time to step out of myself and redirect my focus towards what really matters. Instead of concentrating on what I fear, it is time to focus on the power of giving.
Dear Catch community: this is a journey we are on together. I am not any farther along on this journey than you are. To be sure, many of you are farther along than I am. Be patient with me. I’m trying to catch up.
“Where focus goes, energy flows.”
John Fischer The Catch 
Last fall the day I broke my ankle I was not focusing on just walking. I have tried to get better on that one doing one task at a time and then move on. I thank God each day for sending his Amazing son to save us all. Jesus focused on all of us no matter what our situation was and welcomed us. We can never begin to be grateful enough but, we follow him each day is the best way to start and keep doing that for all time.
Dear Pastor John I LOVED this, you wrote: “Instead of concentrating on what I fear, it is time to focus on the power of giving.” B/C back in my younger time of being a new follower of Jesus and few months after waking up from the 3-months coma that a bad car accident had put me in, a very dear and wise Pastor had suggested to me the best way to get “over” myself and my problems was to go out and help someone with their problems – GREAT advice b/c it worked!