Monday Memo 308: Pay Attention
Do you know what I admire most about Jesus? He was aware of what was going on around Him! I know that sounds strange, but it's something I keep noticing in the gospel accounts. I woman touched him while the crowd pressed all around Him, and He knew what she had done. He watched the people giving and yet noticed and pointed out a woman who gave two coins. While He was agonizing in the Garden, He knew that the mob had come to seize Him, while His faithful disciples slept just a stone's throw away.
Because Jesus was aware, I want to be aware as well. Unfortunately, I have too often been like the snoozing disciples mentioned above. I once had a whirlwind three-week business trip that took me to Seattle, Alaska, back to Seattle, Indiana, Chicago and Florida. Here is what I learned about myself during those three weeks.
WHAT I LEARNED
1. I am a good tour guide. I know how to travel and don't mind taking people with me. I can explain where we are and the significance of the places I visit. I have a great sense of direction and seldom get lost or disoriented.
2. I love seeing people enjoy themselves. I even like watching game shows to see the people win prizes and get excited. I was with hundreds of people on my Alaska cruise and I was with eight Zimbabwean friends one time for two weeks who enjoyed their first visit to the States. I had as much fun as they did.
3. Life on the road is crazy, and I love it! You are constantly improvising when you are on the road. Flights are delayed, people run out of soap, people need to do laundry, and they have trouble using their international calling cards. I love solving problems and thinking up quick solutions to problems as they arise. If I could figure a way to have my wife on the road with me, I don't think I would ever come home.
4. I love learning new things. On this trip, I attended two training sessions and grew from both of them. I have a goal to attend one new learning experience every year. I have exceeded that goal this year already.
5. Don't take anything on the road that you don't mind losing. On this trip, I lost my Bluetooth headset, then lost the replacement's power cord, mangled my cell phone car charger, left a CD in a rental car, lost my pocket pen, and now can't find a piece of paper with important information on it. What's more, my new computer malfunctioned and I had to get it fixed in Chicago. I have learned that all of it can be replaced or repaired and not to fret too much over it all.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
I wrote about taking a joy inventory that would help you identify what gives you joy. I urged you to pay attention to their heart, for out of it flow the springs of life. The five points I listed above are an inventory or review of my last few weeks and I wrote those things in my journal as I reflected on my trip.
So now it's your turn. You may not have paid attention over the last three weeks, but you certainly can this coming week. Why not keep a journal of the activities in which you engage in the next seven days. Keep track of your feelings. What did you enjoy and why? When were you happiest? Most sad? Depressed? Discouraged? When did you procrastinate? Why?
At the end of the week, read back over your joy inventory and see what your impressions are. As you can see from my five points, I was reminded of one thing: I love to travel and it shows. The question then remains as to how to use this love to serve God and fulfill my purpose. Furthermore, I have found that when I pay attention to how I feel, it helps me empathize with how others are feeling. That is my ultimate goal in this entire exercise, for I want to be a better purpose coach for others. That starts with being in touch with my own heart.
So have a good time this week paying attention to you and the things around you. As you do, I know that you will have a great week and that your joy inventory will help you have even better weeks as you learn to pay attention.