Attention-grabbers

Published March 14, 2012 |

Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised. Psalm 119:37

All that glitters is not gold—but it sure grabs our attention. Shiny cars and flashy clothes turn heads. Ever-expanding technology and media sources bring the world to our fingertips. But useful tools can become counter-productive distractions.

We all need time to relax. Socializing online or vegging out in front of the TV is great as long as it doesn’t don’t rob us of time that might be better spent pursuing what genuinely nourishes us and our relationships with others. How balanced is our activity diet? Is the time spent on each activity in proportion to its value?

On the other hand, why pull away from diversion unless something better is offered? What can compete with the attention-grabbers that bombard us 24/7? Balancing junk food with good nutrition isn’t appealing unless we remind ourselves of the long-term benefits. “A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” Similarly, the psalmist speaks to God about this saying, “be good to me as you have promised.” Reminding ourselves of God’s goodness in our lives can help us focus on what’s good for us in the long run.

Can we balance our attention between the captivating and the worthwhile?

Prayer: Lord, direct my attention today.

Reflection for sharing: What are you focusing on today? What would you like to focus on? Are they the same?

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Meditations

But Jesus answered “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’” (Matthew 4:4)

All Bible quotes are from the Good News Translation unless otherwise noted.

It is reassuring that Jesus called fishermen and tax collectors to be his followers. These were laymen, not Scripture experts. It is wise to seek guidance from religious scholars and clergy who have studied Scripture to avoid errors in interpretation. But the Bible is also a gift given to each of us, to use as a basis for prayer and meditation.

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