Attentiveness (Last Thoughts)
French philosopher Blaise Pascal thought that inattention is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life. If inattention is a great enemy of the spiritual life then how do we learn to be more attentive?
French philosopher Blaise Pascal thought that inattention is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life. If inattention is a great enemy of the spiritual life then how do we learn to be more attentive?
It is true that some people are more inclined towards attentiveness. They have a natural inclination or a gifting towards it. For the rest of us we must learn it, especially if we have learned ways to be inattentive (without even knowing it!).
“The Attentive Life” by Leighton Ford has been the book that I have been reading regarding attentiveness and it has sparked much of my thinking on the subject. He lists some qualities of attentiveness which I list below and will expand on a few.
– Being fully present in the moment.
– Looking long enough.
– Looking freshly at what is familiar.
– Being available.
– Becoming aware.
– Waiting with expectancy.
– Being mindful.
– Being wakeful.
Being fully present in the moment can be such a challenge. Our minds wander, we lose focus, worries cloud our thoughts, we do not value the person in front of us or we think there are more important things we could be doing. When we chose to be fully present (hopefully at some point it starts coming more naturally!) we are practicing attentiveness.
Looking long enough is contradictory to everything around us. We read headlines and blips rather than full paragraphs for a story, we scroll through facebook or emails too often and the world around us is bombarding us with messages and information. We are losing the ability to look long at something let alone long enough. I do not know what “enough” necessarily means. Maybe it is subjective because we all listen at a different pace. Or because we have no idea what or how much God wants to speak to us. Or because we have no idea how much the person who is asking for our attention needs it. Even if it is subjective I’m pretty sure most of us could use looking a little longer even if we do not know what enough is. I do think that through practicing attentiveness with God our perception of enough sharpens.
Being available. Some of us just physically are not available. Calendars are full with good and necessary things (sometimes they are full of not good and unnecessary things), we are tired (for good reason) or we aren’t managing time well. There are others reasons for not being available, but consider how you can unclutter your calendar. There are many good things we can (and sometimes should) be doing and often there are good things we shouldn’t be doing. When we are doing these “extras” we are missing out on being available to what God is actually calling us to do. Choose to be available to God and to others.
I would add to this list: knowing when to stop. This could be stopping what you are physically doing, or stopping what you are thinking or stopping to listen to another or God. Often times we push through when God is prompting us to stop. Recognizing we need to stop is one thing. Actually doing it is another (as I sit here eating a huge lemon bar!).
Sometimes these qualities of attentiveness require direct effort and choice. We must choose to be attentive in these different ways. An indirect way of growing in attentiveness is practicing spiritual disciplines. Some of these disciplines include solitude, silence, meditation, slowing and more. Through practicing these disciplines the degree of our attentiveness increases as these disciplines cause us to connect to God and hear His voice.
If inattention is a great enemy of our spiritual lives then make the choice to grow in attentiveness. In doing so your eyes, ears and heart will sharpen to the voice of God and the needs of others.
