Paying Attention

So often we think we are paying attention to others, but in reality, are only paying attention to the thoughts we have in our head, or to whatever is the immediately “have to” for that moment, with minimal attention anywhere else.

I have to share an experience that happened only this morning.  So often, as ministers, we are expected to be so much better than others, and sometimes I get caught up in that. Yes, ministers should be an example for others, but we must also be humble and remember that we are human to.  We will make mistakes, and we will forget to pay attention to things outside our immediate scope of attention.

My husband has a list of Warrior Notes.  Fourteen pages of insights, thoughts, ideas, things that he finds profound.  And it is an amazing list.  I learn so much from him, and I see the list often.  But this morning we were talking and the list came up.  He asked me what was on the list, and I couldn’t remember anything.  I remember moments where I will see the list, look down and read one note on it, but then immediately move on to the next thing I have to do.  I don’t absorb what it says, let the note impact me, or meditate on the message.  The greatest inspiration in my life, and I don’t pay enough attention to what is important to him.

We take so many things for granted.  We always assume those things will be there for us whenever we have time.  We need to stop and realize that if we are seeing them, there is a reason.  We must make the time to let the message sink in.

I know that the next time I see those 14 pages, I need to sit down and read them.  Not all at once, but I need to read them. And I will talk to my husband about them, find out why they are important, what they mean to him.  Just because I hold a title doesn’t mean that I am done learning.  And just because I see them all the time doesn’t mean I should take those notes for granted.