Fasting From Distraction: Recovering Attention

There are a lot of distractions in the culture we inhabit.  And for someone like me, who enjoys multitasking, it doesn't take long to discover them, usually when I'm trying to focus to get something done. 

We are seldom enveloped by silence.  There are, to coin a phrase from Hamlet, a "thousand natural shocks" that keep us from being quiet and focused.  The act of being fully present in a moment is often jarred by the notifications on our phones or computers.  We have a TV blaring in the background or music in our headphones. 

We have schedules to keep, appointments to make, and projects to do, but they all become difficult to even start because we find ourselves distracted by one thing or another.  

All the ways that we are inundated with distractions can take a toll on us, mentally, physically, and even spiritually.  I often find my mind wandering when I try to spend time in prayer and meditation. As it turns out, it's a lot harder to empty your mind of scattered thoughts than nyou might think.  

Distraction is subtle. It does not feel sinful; it feels normal. After all, this is the way of our world.  Yet constant distraction erodes depth. When attention is scattered, spiritual formation becomes shallow.

If you read through the Bible, you'll discover that even in ancient times, people strugled with this. The Apostle Paul exhorted early Christians to limit their exposure to anything that distracted them from following Jesus.  He wrote about renewing the mind, and maintaining focus.  “Set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2). Attention shapes desire, and desire shapes life.

Fasting from distraction may mean limiting background noise, resisting multitasking, or choosing single-task focus. It teaches us to remain present.  Anything we can do to quiet our minds and our spirits opens us up more to the movement of the Spirit of God within us.  

This also merits thinking about: Distraction often shields us from discomfort. Many of us have become so accustomed to noise that we can't abide the discomfort of silence.  When quiet comes, so do unresolved thoughts. Lent invites us not to avoid them, but to bring them into prayer.

Attention is sacred. When we offer it intentionally, ordinary moments become holy.

Prayer
God of clarity, gather our scattered attention. Teach us to be present with you and with others. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What most frequently distracts you?

2. How does distraction affect your faith?

3. What practice could help you recover attention?