Grabbing Our Attention
December 22, 2022 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Every day we are bombarded with spectacles. Author Tony Reinke explains, “A spectacle is something that captures human attention, an instant when our eyes and brains focus and fixate on something projected at us” (Competing Spectacles, p. 14). These spectacles spring from our screens and almost every corner of our lives.
Part of the reason why spectacles grab our attention is because we were made to behold greatness. Reinke writes, “Our hearts seek splendor as our eyes scan for greatness. We cannot help it. John Piper says, ‘The world aches to be awed. That ache was made for God. The World seeks it mainly through movies’ – and in entertainment and politics and true crime and celebrity gossip and warfare and live sports” (p. 18). We ache for greatness, but thousands of silly spectacles distract us from what is truly great. As C.S. Lewis wrote a generation ago in his Weight of Glory essay, “We are far too easily pleased.”
The CEO of Microsoft in 2014 stated that “the true scarce commodity is increasingly human attention.” Social media apps, advertising companies, the sporting and entertainment industries all want to capture our very limited attention. Reinke adds, “We are creatures shaped by what grabs our attention – and what we give our attention to becomes our objective and subjective reality” (p. 19). Therefore, we must be careful with what “grabs our attention.” The simple point of Reinke’s book is, “Spectacles compete with God for our attention” (p. 70).
Are you intentional with what grabs your attention? If we are not intentional, whatever spectacles that have access to our eyes will hold our attention. That is the mastermind of the smartphone. The “in-between times,” those empty times in between various tasks that fill our days, now are filled with a quick check of email, social media, or the latest scores. And, before we know it, five minutes, ten minutes, even 60 minutes, slip away as we take in an endless stream of spectacles that ultimately add nothing to our lives.
How do we become intentional with our attention? We must decide to set our attention on that which is truly valuable. Reinke explains, “Attention is the skill of withdrawing from everything to focus on some things” (p. 18). What will you withhold from your attention? On what will you intentionally place your focus?
The Apostle Paul calls the Christian to set his attention on Christ. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:1-2). A mind set upon Christ is a mind being renewed and strengthened. A mind set upon Christ knows peace and joy and hope. A mind set upon Christ leads to a life that is being sanctified by the Spirit.
What can you do to set your attention on Christ intentionally on a daily basis? Reinke admits that this is not easy. “Focusing our attention for too long is hard” (p. 55). But in this world of competing spectacles, we have no choice but to either set our minds on Christ or be swept away from the latest empty spectacle.
Paul gives the practical answer just a few verses after this command. He says in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” The Word of God must be prominent in our lives to captivate our attention. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly through Bible reading, study, meditation, and memorization. Let it be rich among you through conversations with fellow believers and through singing worship with the church and cultivating gratitude for all things.
What spectacles dwells in you richly?
