# The Black Dot

- Link: https://dismasfellowshipnetwork.com/reflections/the-black-dot/
- Published: 2021-02-11T12:00:29-04:00
- Author: Paul Tuck

AUTHOR: Unknown

One day, a professor entered his classroom and asked his students to prepare for
a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin.
The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once he 
handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers.

To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions-just a black dot in the center of
the paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the
following: “I want you to write about what you see there.” The students, confused,
got started on the inexplicable task.

At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams, and started reading each
one of them out loud in front of all the students.  All of them, with no exception,
defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet.
After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain:

“I’m not going to grade you on this, I just wanted to give you something to think
about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black
dot – and the same thing happens in our lives. We insist on focusing only on the
black dot – the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated
relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend. The dark spots
are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the
ones that pollute our minds. Take your the eyes away from the black dots in your
lives. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you.”

**Reflection Question: ** What are some areas in your life that you are focusing
right now?  OR  What are some ways in which you try to stay focused?