OUTSIDE FOCUS

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know that so many things easily distract me. How often I completely miss details because my mind was wandering while I was trying to concentrate. It has been a life long malady and the only way I often cope is by making sure if I am too distracted to stop and trying catching my breath in terms of concentration.

I have a feeling though that I am not alone. I recall in this one book I read once that the author spoke of how often the human mind slips into automatic pilot when doing routine things. We simply fall prey to wanting to not exhaust ourselves by thinking so hard.

The problem such as when we are driving is such lack of concentration and letting one’s mind drift will lead to making mistakes and even accidents. It happens to often to be regarded as something that only occurs occasionally.

With a great many things missing a detail can cause problems, but not necessarily a disaster. Even though we might end up groaning, we do survive.

For some reason though it seems like we don’t feel comfortable admitting when this aspect of our live affects our spiritual experiences. I doubt anyone would want to confess, “Well I was writing the bible and my mind just sort of started day dreaming and to be honest I can even remember what I read.” It might happen, but I don’t think anyone would enjoy admitting it.

So there is to me a basic inclination to sort of suppress that element of reality in spiritual manners. We stroll into church, engage in the worship, listen to the sermon and then leave in part appreciative that nobody knew instead of paying attention our mind was thinking about some worry or concern. If nobody discovers our act, we can leave feeling relieved that one more Sunday goes on our “Well done good and faithful servant” check list in Heaven.

Do we dare stop and consider that God knows the whole time that our brain was in neutral and we can even remember what song we sung, let alone anything about the sermon? Probably not.

Is there any cure for this problem? I call it grace. I call it accepting the truth and taking ti to God’s altar of forgiveness and mercy.

When we can accept this reality we can also learn to perhaps embrace that as long as we breathe we shall be flawed in so many ways. It isn’t the purging or pretense of purging of such flaws that makes the difference. At least not from my point of view.

I prefer to come before the Lord undressed of such illusions. To stop and inhale the moment and what it has to offer. Sometimes the aroma is sweet and full of awareness. Others it is stale because I am mortal. Hopefully as we shed the garment of excuse we can be warmed by the more perfect fitting garment of God’s spirit empowering each of us as only he is able.