I Should've Known
I can laugh about it now—quite hysterically in fact. I should’ve known, but I didn’t.
I’m wondering. Do you?
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Reading and writing are my jam. However, I’m wondering if there is an unwritten rule somewhere that demands I know the term red herring before I can profess such a statement. I’ve heard of the author’s technique for years, but never quite grasped its full meaning until about a week ago.
When my writers’ critique group discussed red herrings, I understood just enough to get the gist and nod my head. But that’s it. Conversations would ensue about the “great red herring” or “needing another red herring”.
Red herring. Red herring. Red herring.
Nod. Nod. Nod.
But it gets worse.
I could picture the bird, plain as the tree out my window. It was cardinal-red with a long neck and a bright yellow, skinny beak. It’s little beady eyes scanning the yard for its next meal. I had no clue why the “bird” was associated with writing or even how to spot one in the story.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that a red herring is in fact—wait for it— a fish. The crazy thing is not red but shimmery silver and doesn’t turn a reddish color until after it’s smoked. It also has the reputation of being quite smelly. All of which, you probably already knew, but embarrassingly, I did not.
Apparently, red herrings were used to train dogs to follow a scent. As the story goes, sometimes as a joke, a person would tie a red herring to a horse’s tail then send the steed galloping off into the opposite direction of the actual prey.
At last, no more glossed over eyes for me when the term is discussed. Now I can articulate; A red herring is something or someone used to distract another from the real solution. The real culprit.
In novels, authors invent red herrings to purposely keep the reader confused and intrigued. But here’s a thought. You and I face red herrings every day. Not just in books or movies, but in real life.
Many of the red herrings in our lives come from the ultimate antagonist. His name is Satan, and He is much more authentic than the crazy beady-eyed bird I imagined. In fact, he’s as real as your thumbprint. The Bible says he is a liar and the father of lies. He specializes in flashing red herrings at every turn to draw us down a path away from God’s best.
Case in point. We started January wishing everyone Happy New Year! Perhaps, like me, you made lists of what worked last year and what didn’t. You re-evaluated your schedule and created a better plan to effectively use your time and energy. Your step had pep, and your eyes shone clear.
Now, as we come to the end of the month known for new beginnings, reality may have whacked you in the shins. A few weeks in and you’re already so distracted from what you hoped would be a solid pursuit of priorities, dreams and goals.
Why? Red herring. Red herring. Red herring.
No need to beat yourself up for it. We’ve all fallen victim. Just consider how to move forward from here.
Take a minute and let one preacher’s statement sink in: “What we’re distracted from is so much more important than what we’re distracted by.”
It’s true, eh?
Here’s a question to explore, what does my ideal God-honoring Monday look like? Tuesday. Wednesday etc. . .
Call it out. It’s much harder to reach a goal if we don’t know what it is.
Next ask, what red herrings are distracting me?
Identify them. Be aware and then shake off the spell. Remember, the thing we’re distracted from—our goal— is so much more important than what we’re distracted by—the red herring.
Nehemiah, the Old Testament governor of Jerusalem, is a fantastic example of not allowing distractions to keep him from the most important tasks. He makes this statement to the people throwing red herrings in his path, “…I am doing a great work and I cannot come down…” Nehemiah 6:3
Guess what? Whether you realize it or not, you and I have a great work too, and we cannot come down. Let’s keep a lookout for those crazy red herrings. When we recognize them, let’s set our face like a flint and walk on by toward what God really has before us.
Hope & Glory to you!
xoxo
Rebecca
