Attention: Conveying appropriate interest, concern, and care; taking notice of others and making an effort to enter into their respective worlds. (1 Corinthians 12:25 NASB)
I (Linda) saw this and it made me laugh because I can see someone thinking that! Haha
We meet others for coffee, we go to the movies, out to dinner etc…and more times than not we see people interacting on their devices rather than with one another.
What happened to paying attention to the people we are with? What happened to looking them in the eye as they speak rather than glancing back and forth from our device to them? What happened to conversation that flows back and forth with inflection in our words instead of emoji’s?
The lost art of paying attention! It is rather sad, don’t you think?
Jesus – The Light of the World: (Jesus Meets Our Need For Attention)
I don’t know about you, but I often have a hard time paying attention when I am praying. I start off great and then…there it goes…my mind wanders. I feel terrible about it when it happens. Thankfully God knows my heart!
I read this quote:
“To listen is to lean in, softly, with a willingness to be changed by what we hear.”
Mark Nepo
“Oh Lord! Give us willing hearts to lean into you and give you our full attention so we may be changed by what we hear! May we desire YOU above anything else! May your voice be louder than any other!”
I am so thankful that when we talk to God He is not preoccupied. His mind does not wander. What a beautiful, loving Father we have, friends! He is worthy of our full attention!
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His Glory and Grace.” Amen and Amen. It is true!
His Word – A lamp and a Light
Let’s do: Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Can we give the gift of attention to those around us, please?
This is a gift because when we give mindful attention to those around us we are giving them ourselves, our time, our care. We communicate to them, I am present, you matter to me. To not pay attention is to communicate, “You are really not that important to me. My distraction means more to me.” No way, Jesus valued objects more than people. Perhaps that is why religion as a dedication to things is not God’s idea of Christian living.
Paying attention takes discipline, doesn’t it? I think we could honestly say that “being fully present” can be a struggle at times. The point is, we can train our minds to not wander by re-focusing when it does, to “lean in” when in conversation, make eye contact, repeat back to the person key phrases they said to be sure we are understanding. These are subtle ways we can train ourselves to communicates to others, “You matter!”
You And I Are “The Light of the World” – Jesus Said So.
As someone with a need for attention there is nothing more meaningful when I feel I matter to someone, simply by noting that they are paying attention.
Friends, our LIGHT can shine so brightly in this area! When the too many people in this world are so focused on themselves, we can focus on the one thing that matters most to God….His crown of creation – people!
Will you pay attention? Will you be fully present at your dinner table, on your dates, at the office? Put your device down once in awhile.
I want to share something with you. My dad was at my home for a visit over Thanksgiving. Also my kids were here with us visiting Pop Pop. I remember as we all sat in the living room and almost all of us at times were head down on our phones or i pads while my dad sat quietly watching TV.
I remember thinking at moments during his visit, “I wonder if it bothers him – our being on these devices, not engaging in conversation. He was visiting after all.” I dismissed it thinking, “Ahh, we have plenty of time to talk while he is here.”
Friends, my dad passed away on New Year’s Day. Our time to talk is no more.
Don’t let your precious time be sucked up by a world that is not “fully present.” Turn your eyes and ears to your loved ones and to those with whom you interact, because you never know…. it may be the last moment you share with them.