ON MINDFULNESS
If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may He save us!
But even if He will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.
As a kid, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego left me with the distinct impression that at some point in my life, a malevolent individual would probably demand that I worship a false god. I didn’t know who would orchestrate this, or why, or when, but I was quite confident that I’d recognize the situation when it was upon me. One doesn’t generally find oneself slipping into a casual habit of kneeling before a golden statue, after all.
The reality, unfortunately, is that most of the things that serve to turn us away from God are neither as flashy nor as recognizable as physical golden idols. As I sat down to write a reflection on today’s readings, I found myself unable to concentrate. As I flitted between my phone, my planner, and the many tabs open on my laptop, I came to the sinking realization that I devote much of my time to perhaps the trickiest idol of all - distraction.
Any time I have a spare moment, I unlock my phone and start scrolling, lest I am presented with a moment to simply be still. When I feel anxiety welling up inside of me, I find myself particularly drawn to the numbing balm of puzzle apps. These puzzle games don’t require any real thought - just enough that I can’t concentrate on anything else.
Even the activities I like, the activities I find truly life-giving - I often push away in favor of distraction.
This trend in my behavior baffles me, and as I’ve become more aware of it, I’ve realized just how often I engage in distracting myself. Instead of offering my anxieties to God, I almost always seek to numb them through mindless activities, which - spoiler alert - doesn’t work.
I don’t have a clear answer for exactly how to fix this, but I know how to start. Now when I find myself instinctively reaching for my phone, I catch myself, put it back down, and try to be present in the moment. Maybe I say a prayer; maybe I call a friend so I can engage in genuine connection; maybe I simply ask God and myself what I’m trying to avoid. I don’t know how long it will take to be as mindful as I’d like, but I know that turning away from distraction and seeking quiet moments with God is the first step.
Where do I direct my attention when I am under stress? What activities or habits draw me away from God?
Bethany Poythress
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