Attention

Attention

Listen to me; listen, and pay close attention.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, my parents were selective about the movies and TV shows we watched, but classic musicals got a free pass. Judy Garland was born in my hometown, and her films were a favorite. My sisters and I spent hours watching Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, and The Harvey Girls. Although I saw The Wizard of Oz less frequently—the melting witch was terrifying—I did love the ruby red slippers Judy wore as the character of Dorothy.

One day, we heard those sparkling slippers were going to be displayed locally. I was thrilled. After paying the cost of admission and walking inside the creaky old building in the center of town, we were herded through halls filled with movie memorabilia. But there were so many visitors that we seemed to be on a time limit. By the time we got to the end, I realized I hadn’t actually seen the slippers! In my haste to see everything else, I’d overlooked those glittering shoes. I was too distracted to see what mattered most, and too embarrassed to tell my mom that I’d missed them.

Life offers its own kinds of distractions. Work, family, friends, church, entertainment, hobbies—all add up to a noisy, attention-seeking buzz in our ears. It can become so distracting that it’s easy to miss the voice of God. I can’t help but appreciate Matthew’s words to the reader. While in the midst of relating Jesus’ important words to his followers about the end of the world, the author adds an astonishing sidenote: “Reader, pay attention!” (Matthew 24:15).

As Christians, how can we discern who and what we should choose to listen and pay close attention to? We can actively and intentionally listen to the Word of God by reading the Bible or utilizing an audio version. And we can weed through our calendar by following the lead of Jesus, choosing opportunities where we can love God and love others well. We don’t want to miss what’s most important because our calendar is too full to pay attention to the work God is calling us to. Like those ruby slippers, it’s too easy to get to the end and wonder where we missed out.

Lord, give us the eyes to see the tasks and people you want us to give our attention to. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Take stock of your calendar. In what areas of your life can you reclaim space in order to refocus your attention on God?