Focus

by Doug Wysockey-Johnson

He probably doesn’t know it, but New York Times columnist David Brooks recently wrote a great OP-ED piece on calling.  He was writing about something so many of us are feeling these days:  our lack of focus.  We are losing what he calls the “attention war.” 

Brooks confesses:  “I text when I should be paying attention to the people in front of me. I spend hours looking at mildly diverting stuff on YouTube. (“Look, there’s a bunch of guys who can play ‘Billie Jean’ on beer bottles!”).” 

And I confess that I relate to his confession. I haven’t seen the ‘Billie Jean’ video, but I have watched my share of funny cat episodes.   Not to mention whatever it is my friends on Facebook want me to read or watch.  Not to mention what ESPN tells me what is important news of the day.  Make room in the confession booth David, there are a lot of us who are feeling more than a little distracted these days.

But more than his confession, I relate to his conclusion:  the answer to our distraction is not sermonizing and prohibitions on screen activity.  “Just say no” has never been a great change strategy.  Brooks concludes:  “The lesson from childhood, then, is that if you want to win the war for attention, don’t try to say “no” to the trivial distractions you find on the information smorgasbord; try to say “yes” to the subject that arouses a terrifying longing, and let the terrifying longing crowd out everything else.”

I remember a time when I was asked to be on a volunteer committee.  I asked for a week to think about it. In that week, I noticed that ideas continually emerged for what we might do on this committee.  I couldn’t not think about it.  The ‘terrifying longing’ was crowding out everything else, and I said yes. 

I imagine the superficial chatter in our world is only going to increase. I predict more funny cat videos, not less.  (And lest you think I am a total scrooge, I hope to continue to enjoy internet fluff now and then.)  But it is worth taking time on a regular basis to get below the chatter, listening for what is a little deeper in us.  You want to be more focused?  Pay attention to what gets your emotions going and what you can’t help thinking about. Pay attention to your call.

Pass It On

The Facebook post came entitled “Video that will change your life. I have no words left.” and skeptical me said mentally in a sarcastic voice, “Right. (pause) Who sent it? How long is it?”  4:36 is a bit longer than I will usually bite on, and it’s an ambitious title, but I clicked.

Utterly worth it. It touched me deeply to the point of tears. I’m not sure why. I think the producers of this “see an act of kindness, pass it on” (my title) video never intended to make people cry; I have word that I’m not the only one.

Seeing people make tiny gestures for the good of others reminds me of the Faith at Work legend (based on fact) of a Lady Crowley level Christian woman who routinely wiped down the sink counters in public restrooms whenever she used them. (This is truly such an old story that it required the shift from Lumunos to the previous name.)

I routinely witness my wife, Laurel, studying over the pot-luck offerings to decide if she will really need a knife. Most times she doesn’t need one so she doesn’t take one (nor a spoon on some occasions). That’s a tiny gesture but it adds up. I know. I am the guy in charge of the coffee cup washing project at church.

I can visualize riding with my colleague, Pat, many years ago. When we approached a red light he maneuvered to the passing lane, instead of the curb lane, because we were the first car. I have done the same thing many times in the decades since, for the same reason he told me. “The person behind us might want to turn right on red, and there’s no reason for me to be sitting in his way when I can avoid it.

This is how I want our world to be for all of us. I think each of the examples I mentioned are profoundly Christian acts.

In the video when a kindness is extended there is always an obvious witness who commits the next act of kindness. In life it isn’t always so. Except that we know. I don’t believe God keeps a scorecard; but I am quite certain when we extend a kindness it pleases God.