DRIFT.
It’s the gradual movement of an object, person, or thing from one place to another, usually influenced by external forces.
A boat will drift because of wind and water currents.
Relationships drift because of things like work, schedule, energy, physical illness, communication challenges, outright neglect, and more.
Drift happens so effortlessly. It’s usually unintentional. But when it’s ignored and allowed to continue, its effects can be devastating.
For instance:
- Physical Drift
Adding an extra five pounds in 2023 wasn’t so bad? Right?
Not unless you add another five pounds in 2024.
And, another five in 25.
And, another six in 26.
And, maybe seven in 27.
In five short years, that’s an additional 28 pounds.
How did it happen?
Drift.
Gradually. Slowly. Effortlessly. Naturally. Progressively.
Is it dangerous?
It can be. In several ways including increased risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, and hypertension; joint pain, sleep apnea, increased inflammation, and reduced mobility, just to name a few.
How does it occur?
Drift.
Consistent inattention to what we eat.
A missed day here or there of exercise.
Neglect when it comes to our body’s need for rest.
We simply drift.
The wake-up call usually comes with chest pain or a visit to the doctor’s office. Or, sometimes, it doesn’t come. The consequences and impact of physical drift are sometimes final and irreversible.
- Relational Drift
So, you haven’t encouraged your husband recently. That’s no big deal, right? I mean, life is seasonal, and the season you’re in is hectic. Maybe you’ll have the opportunity next week? Next month? Next year?
That’s drift.
So, you haven’t kissed your wife in a few days. That’s not an issue, right? Not unless a few days becomes a few weeks and a few weeks becomes a few months and a few months becomes… Well, you get the point.
Several years ago a husband and wife came to my office desperate for a miracle in their marriage. As we talked, while tears streamed down her face, the wife shared that she and her husband hadn’t been physically affectionate with one another or made love in seven years. You read that right. Seven.
This couple was in their early forties. They were both healthy. They were physically attractive. They were good people. They even had children together. So, obviously, physical intimacy had been a part of their relationship in the past. As we had sat in my office over several weeks, they even remembered and reminisced about their dating life and the early years of their marriage.
But that day the distance between them was huge.
The culture of their marriage had become soul-crushing and cold.
The heartbreak of the wife was devastating.
The powerlessness the husband felt when it came to being tender and vulnerable was immense.
The hopelessness they both felt was enormous.
How did they get there? How did this happen?
While I’m certain there are many possible explanations. Primary among them all would be the danger of drift. They drifted.
They stopped paying attention. And, when they finally realized they needed to pay attention their relationship needed more than attention. It needed intervention. It needed a miracle.
And, it all began with drift.
Gradually. Slowly. Effortlessly. Naturally. Progressively. This couple had drifted. And, they didn’t drift toward one another, they drifted apart.
- Spiritual Drift
Drift even occurs in our relationship with God. Maybe, especially, in our relationship with God.
One of the warnings the writer of the book of Hebrews stresses to a group of believers who have been subjected to a relentless round of challenges, difficulties, setbacks and persecution was exactly this challenge. “Don’t drift.” Check out Hebrews 2:1.
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard,
so that we do not drift away. —Hebrews 2:1 NIV
I looked Hebrews 2:1 up in at least nine translations of the Bible, and the same word is used in each translation.
“…lest we drift away.” (NKJ)
“…lest we drift away from it.” (ESV)
“…or we may drift away from it.” (NLT)
“…so that we will never drift away from it.” (The Voice)
“…so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.” (AMP)
“…so that we don’t drift off.” (MSG)
“…so that we do not drift off course.” (TPT)
“…lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.” (AMPC)
Notice the variations. Sometimes we “drift away,” “drift off” or “drift [right] past.” The point is, when we stop paying attention we will inevitably end up somewhere in our relationship with God we didn’t intend on getting to.
Nobody ever drifted to a destination they would have chosen.
Evidently, some of the believers the writer of Hebrews was writing to had started to drift. The external and internal forces they were up against gradually caused them to become weary, exhausted, careless, lazy, and apathetic in their walk with God and their commitment to the truth. Their battle fatigue had caused them to become spiritually sloppy.
The writer of Hebrews was frank in his challenge:
“Start paying attention! I know what you’ve been up against, but this is no time to get apathetic!
You don’t know the danger you’re drifting into… You can’t even imagine the consequences if you keep allowing yourself to drift…”
He gets even more bold in Verse 3.
“…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard…” —Hebrews 2:3 ESV
The word for “great” as in “great salvation” means “great, large, and vast.” And, the word “neglect” means to “stop paying attention.”
This writer is throwing down a mega-ton of truth on these believers. He’s essentially pointing to Jesus’ cross, resurrection, and ascension, and calling out this church:
“Are you kidding me?
“Can you actually look at what Jesus did for you — dying for your sins, in your place?
Kicking death in the teeth and rising victoriously from the grave?
Ascending back to the Father and sending you the Holy Spirit?
“Can you look at the greatness of all that Jesus has done and allow yourself to drift?
“Can you look at the cross and stay complacent?
Can you look at the resurrection and be apathetic?
Can you think about the Holy Spirit living in you and working through you and remain lifeless and impotent?
Can you really remember all God has done and Jesus has accomplished and be inattentive to the beauty, grace, and wonder of this “great salvation”?
The implied answer is, “There’s no possible way!”
“Pay attention so you don’t drift away. Stay focused so you don’t unintentionally neglect this great salvation. It’s way too valuable and it’s far too important.”
At this point, maybe you’re wondering, “Okay. Okay. I get the point. Drift is gradual, natural, effortless, easy, and dangerous. But what can I do about it? How can I prevent it?”
How can we prevent DRIFT?
Whether it’s physical, relational, or spiritual, how do we deal with our inclination to drift?
Wishing on a star won’t help you address the extra 28 pounds you’ve added over the last five years.
Hoping for improvement won’t bridge the gap that has developed between you and your spouse.
Fixating on “the way you were” in your relationship with God won’t reignite your passion, grow your faith, or restore your intimacy with God.
Good intentions alone won’t pull you out of the drift and anchor you to something secure. Hope is not a strategy.
We’ve described the problem. In Part Two of this series, I’ll share five steps for dealing with drift. Until then, a great place to begin is by following the direction of Hebrews 2:1, “Start paying attention.”