More than anytime in history, we are a culture who does not know how to focus. We call it multitasking-sitting in front of the TV while checking Facebook on a computer and texting is quite often seen as a perfectly normal way to relax. Our cell phones tend to be surgically implanted to our ears-in fact, Sprint’s main celling point for the new Palm Treo smartphone is that its made for multitasking, running more than one app at once. The problem with this is that we have become so focused on multitasking that we tend to shut down when dealing with less than 5 things at the same time. For me, Im used to constantly splitting attention between whatever Im doing and my Blackberry, which is never more than 6 inches away, and hardly ever off. I know that it limits my ability to devote all my attention to something-when Im testing a rifle, that Berry will be shut off and on a table, so all my attention goes to what I see in the scope, not a vibrating phone in my pocket. However, for some reason, it took me a long time to realise that my prayer time, devos, quiet time, and everything else wasnt getting that same undivided attention-I could give up distractions in order to get a better shot on a cardboard target, but I couldnt do so to better understand what my creator would have me understand!
Paul uses several examples to stress the value of focus in our walk with Christ-the soldier entering a battle, the runner in a race, the farmer growing his crop and plenty of others. These are not prime settings for multitasking-as a friend of mine keeps reminding me, texting while running doesnt exactly speed the runner up, and if I were going on patrol in a hostile city, I would not be overly happy to be paired up with a soldier who is playing with his iPod while the others watch the street with their guns ready. We need to focus on God! To spend time with Him! This is the only way in which we can grow close to Him. When a guy and a girl become “a couple”, they grow closer by spending time together-time focused on each other! (A relationship will not last long if the guy spends an entire date on his cell phone, completely ignoring the girl) How is growing closer to the God of the Universe any different? If I could spend an hour with a special girl, I would jump at the chance! Yet last year at the Hill, we had a class when we were told to go, alone, for an hour, to spend some quiet time with God, and I was horrified! I knew I shouldnt bring my cell phone, I wasnt tired enough to go to sleep, and I was convinced that I would be bored to death 5 minutes into that hour! In the end, I survived it just fine (without sleeping!). I wasnt given any amazing revelation, but I got a chance to focus on Him alone-no distractions.
A few days ago, when I started thinking about all this, some changes happened. My Blackberry is now in the same state for devo time as it is for target practice (and running)-silent, and out of reach! Any important relationship requires this elimination of distraction, this focus-and if we can do it for the sake of a dating relationship, what excuse do we have not to in our relationship with our Creator?
