Give up being distracted and be present in the moment.
It’s common to see a family, out for a nice meal at some local restaurant, each member firmly fixed on their technology of choice. No conversation. No interaction with the server beyond saying what they want to eat.
Technology also shows up at the coffee shop with a group of school friends each texting to someone who is, maybe, maybe not present with them at the moment. What’s the point of being together with friends or family if there is no conversation or evidence of relationship? We’ve trained ourselves to be the most distracted generation ever.
The opposite of distraction is focus. It’s Iooking at the barista that is serving your coffee or interacting with the waiter who is taking your menu order. It’s listening for clues about how his/her day is going. It’s responding in appropriate ways rather than just grunting.
Imagine what the story of Jesus and the Woman at the Well would read like with a cell phone or two inserted into it. Maybe Jesus would not have even seen her because his eyes were on the text he was writing to Thomas. “Where are you guys? I’m here waiting for you at the well.”
Therefore . . .. let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that trips us up. And let us run with endurance [and attention] the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1,2.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory [not too distracted to see what is clearly in front of us], the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14.
Question: What causes you to be the most distracted when you are around other people or attempting to do something very important like reading God’s Word to you?
Activity: Challenge yourself to leave your phone in your purse or pocket when you are having a meal with others. Or when you wake up in the morning, don’t look at your phone until you ‘ve spent some time praying or reading the Bible.
Prayer: God of Attention, we are a distracted people. Television, technology, and the general state of busyness keep our minds ever drugged and unfocused. Help us to be more like Jesus who gave undivided attention to each person with whom he came in contact. Please help us to say no to the things that keep us from being resent in the moment. In Jesus name I pray this. Amen.