Where There’s Blayze

Have you ever been so proud of something you’ve done, only to realise later that, well… it was kind of terrible? I experience this often—particularly with my kids. Their boldness in mediocrity is unmatched.

Take their artwork, for example. My kids love drawing pictures for me. And when they run up to me holding their latest masterpiece, they’re brimming with confidence: “Daddy, look at this picture I drew!” Now, every parent knows two things in this moment:

1. We are not about to behold the next Van Gogh.

2. We are about to tell a loving, little lie.

I’m not talking about a soul-damning, Ten Commandments-shattering kind of lie. No, no. These are the kind of lies that build confidence. Lies that say, “This scribble vaguely resembling a traffic accident? It’s amazing! Let’s put it on the fridge!”

But here’s the thing, these little “encouraging lies” serve a purpose. They’re there to keep my kids drawing, exploring, and growing. If I told them the truth—“Sweetheart, this looks like Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat threw up on a piece of paper”—they’d never pick up a crayon again.

This brings us to Mark 13.

Distracting Ourselves Like the Disciples

In Mark 13:1, we see the disciples doing something very human: distracting and deflecting. Jesus has just had a tense showdown with the scribes (Mark 12), and instead of diving into the awkward tension, one of the disciples points at the temple: “Look, Teacher, what massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

It’s like the disciple is saying, “Hey, Jesus, let’s talk about architecture instead of whatever real topic is brewing here.” And honestly? I get it. We all do this. When conversations get uncomfortable, we change the subject. We distract. We deflect.

But the problem with distracting and deflecting is that it doesn’t address the underlying issue. Whether it’s an argument with a friend, a tough family conversation, or even questions about our faith, ignoring the problem doesn’t solve it. It only delays it—and sometimes makes it worse.

The Church’s Temptation to Distract and Deflect

The Church is not immune to this tendency. When faced with hard questions—about politics, scandals, or divisions—we often distract and deflect instead of addressing the issues head-on.

For example, recent events have made these tough conversations even harder. Whether it’s polarising political figures or church leadership scandals, the world seems determined to highlight the Church’s failures. And let’s be honest: these stories stick. People don’t remember the food drives or community service as much as they remember the controversies.

When these issues arise, we sometimes respond like the disciples: “Look at our wonderful stones and buildings!” In other words, we highlight our achievements and avoid addressing the hard stuff. But in doing so, we risk missing the chance to show the world the power of Christ’s grace and truth, even in the midst of our imperfections.

Unity in Christ, Not Division

Mark 13 reminds us that the world will throw distractions at us. Jesus speaks of wars, natural disasters, and false prophets (Mark 13:6–8). These are the things that make us anxious, pulling our focus away from God and toward fear and division. But Jesus’ message is clear: stay focused on Him.

As Christians, we are called to be united, even when we disagree. Hebrews 10:23–25 urges us to hold fast to the confession of our hope and to meet together in encouragement and love. It doesn’t say, “Hold fast because you all agree on politics or social issues.” No, it says to hold fast because He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

Our unity comes from Christ, not our opinions. When we gather around the Lord’s table, we acknowledge our shared need for His grace. We’re not perfect. The disciples weren’t perfect. And yet, Christ invites us all into His love.

Stop Deflecting; Start Reflecting Christ

So, what do we do when the world wants to see only our flaws? When it highlights division and controversy? We stop deflecting and start reflecting, reflecting Christ’s love and grace in how we treat each other and how we engage with the world.

Let’s stop changing the subject when the conversation gets hard. Instead, let’s trust Christ to guide us through those difficult moments. Let’s pray together, worship together, and yes, sometimes even repent together. Because in Christ, we find unity, hope, and the courage to face whatever comes our way.

A Closing Word from Hebrews

Let me leave you with these words from Hebrews 10:22–25:

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

In a world of distractions, let’s keep our eyes on Christ. Because He is faithful, and He is the reason we gather, the reason we hope, and the reason we keep going.