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Holly leads the Spiritual Thursday blog round-up. Many of us have chosen a word to guide us for the year. We will be writing each week about a different blogger’s OLW. Holly’s word is Focus, so today we are writing about focus.
I get a few daily inspirations in my email. One of these is Eknath Easwaran’s Thought of the Day. Recently, he wrote, “As an experiment, try to work cheerfully at some job you dislike: you are training your attention to go where you want it to go. Whatever you do, give it your best concentration.” As somewhat of a New Year’s resolution, I decided to be more friendly to service people like the Walmart or grocery clerks, those people who we take for granted each day. These people have a thankless job to do and usually I am either in a hurry or distracted by worry when I am checking out. Lately, though, I have said, “How’s your day going?” or started a conversation. For some people, this comes naturally, but I am an introvert. I prefer to stay in my own little shell. But as Easwaran’s advice says, I should turn my focus on others. I need to focus on the job at hand and do it with joy and generosity. This little act of attention makes everyone’s day brighter.
I am an Episcopalian. My church is a liturgical church. Our tradition is for vested clergy to lead the service that includes community prayers such as The Nicene Creed and The Lord’s Prayer, lighted candles, and a shared Eucharist or communion. Within the liturgy, I find solace. While saying prayers that I have said all of my life, I can focus in a meditative way, keeping Christ at the center. Focus during this service may seem like distraction. My mind will wander. I often reach for a little notebook in my purse to write. This week, I jotted this question from the sermon, “What is your instrument of hope?” My attention, my intention to focus.
Reflections on the Teche 
With all of the fun things you do and the stories you tell, I have hard time imagining you being an introvert. We have similar thoughts today as I wrote about losing focus, but with me it was in prayer. I love the quote and it is so important to focus on the things that truly matter.
I think I am more extroverted on paper, when I write. I tend to be shy in new or unfamiliar situations. I took some time to find the just right quote. Thanks.
Margaret, your post resonated with me in these ways:
-work cheerfully at something I dislike
-turn my focus on others
-try to keep more in focus during our liturgy
(I also keep a pen & paper nearby to record any words of wisdom from the sermon. I wonder if people think I am strange by doing so.)
I thought your image was a thoughtful one and attractive. Thankyou for your focused post.
When we allow the wandering mind to go where it will, we are sometimes revealed a truth. By making notes, I can let go of the thought and focus again.
I may need to borrow that image and quote, Margaret! Would that be okay? I like the idea of “training your attention to go where you want it to go.” So much easier said than done! So far this morning, FOCUS has been expanded to POSITIVITY, HIS WORD, and ATTENTION. I love it! I’m going to start taking a journal and pen to church. Many times I’ve jotted down notes on the bulletin, but inevitably, the bulletin gets thrown away. Journaling would be a great way to focus on what matters during worship time. Thank you for helping to expand the ideas of FOCUS!
I have always had an issue of working cheerfully on things I don’t like: laundry and housework. They can be such distractions, but I am looking at them more closely now as chance for service for Jesus. I think when we are nice to those often overlooked it is a chance to reflect Him. Thanks for inspiring me on this. I just thought of all this just now!
I love that quote too. I always have my notebook with me at church. It helps me focus!! I miss hearing from you at my blog. Hope you stop by. 🙂
I get you. I do that too, in the shell, noodling around, thinking thoughts. But YOU have this ability to be so joyous in person. I don’t think of you as introverted!
I was just at Trader Joe’s today and a customer asked one of the employees how he was doing. He replied fine and “thank you for asking.” It made me think how infrequently service employees get tended to. They do all of the tending to customers. Your goal of opening up to others is one that will shine back on you!
Julieanne
I love the quote by Dieter Uhctdorf “…to slow down a little, focus on the significant, and truly see…” Great plan to turn your focus on others, especially those we so often don’t see.
Taking notes during church helps me to focus. On Sunday, I will remember your words and encouragement to find solace in the prayers that we say together. This is important. I will mediate on the Lord’s prayer.
Its great to see that someone else finds solace in the liturgy. Just a place to relax, focusing in on the message that guides our lives
I found this statement “Lately, though, I have said, “How’s your day going?” or started a conversation. For some people, this comes naturally, but I am an introvert. I prefer to stay in my own little shell.” so true. Dont you wish more people understood how hard introvertism is? To focus energies on engaging with people is such a challenge when so much energy is devoted to existing amongst people! I admire your courage in this endeavour. I pray you are able to maintain focus on yourself and reaching out to others.