Employees are bombarded with distractions: email, messages, unscheduled visitors, phone calls. It is a huge productivity problem, with well-paid consultants and programs attempting to improve focus on the tasks at hand. Researchers have found that it takes some time, perhaps 25 minutes, to reengage after an interruption.
Distractions can be a spiritual problem as well.
Martha was distracted by her preparations and missed an opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet.
“But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”” (Luke 10:40)
Solomon was distracted by his many foreign wives, and bad things happened.
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women…and his wives turned his heart…away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God…Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully…Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded. (1 Kings 11:1–13)
Interruptions and distractions must be managed if they cannot be eliminated.
Solomon could have obeyed the Lord and not taken many foreign wives.
Martha could have made more simple preparations and focused on the Lord.
We all are susceptible. A friend who has a child with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) talks about ADOS: Attention Deficit…Ooooh….Shiny.
But we can learn to recognize distractions, and keep our focus where the Lord wants it…But not without prayer and His help. And not without practice.
I think this is a tough problem in busy lives. Do you have suggestions for me?
