Let's take driving, for example. I'm in the process of teaching my son how to drive. He's the second child I'm teaching, so I feel like I've got a good handle on what needs to happen.
It's not like the first time I took my oldest out driving, started her at a stop sign in our quiet neighborhood and assumed she would know how to turn the steering wheel. Man, if street signs could talk, they would tell you about the day a crazy, tiny ginger played chicken with them.
We're only a few lessons in with my son, but so far, so good. One of the things I'm teaching him is that you have to pay attention when you're driving. This would seem obvious, but my experiences with so many other drivers tells me it isn't.
via GIPHY
Nowhere is this more painful than at four-way stops. It may seem confusing, but only if you don't understand how a clock works. (You see, the driver to the left yields to the driver on the right, and then it works around the intersection clockwise.)
Of course, knowing how clocks work might be asking a lot for a generation that mostly uses digital.
I could forgive drivers for not knowing if it's clockwise or counter-clockwise, or even knowing their right from their left. But when you start flashing your lights at me to go first when I haven't even fully come to a stop at a four-way section?
That's when the passive-aggressive me comes out. Do you know about the friendly wave or head-nod that you give people for letting you go first? Yeah, you won't get that from me when you've signaled me to go first when I haven't yet even stopped.
I know. I'm not one to be trifled with.
Are There Other Benefits To Paying Attention?
Why yes, yes there are. I'm glad you asked.
Paying attention would help in so many areas of life. Having intelligent conversations where you listen to the other person and carefully consider their viewpoint. This could, and should, happen before you state your own views, which may or may not have been born out of any diversity of thought.
How about in the area of gift giving? Tis the season, after all, and how often have you found yourself wondering what people would like to receive? Paying attention to their personality and needs throughout the year could help you narrow down some possibilities.
I'm So Broke I Can't Pay Attention
I've been reading through Genesis lately, which you may have noticed from some of my recent posts, like this one or that one.
I've come across Jacob, grandson of Abraham. My wife pointed out he's kind of a seedy guy for someone listed among the heroes of God. She's not wrong, but it gives me hope. He had some very clear promises from God and did his part in making sure those promises came to fruition.
I'm not recommending that we should attempt the heavy-lifting to see God's promises come true. I think trust works a bit differently than that. But even when Jacob prayed, he kept reminding God of the promises. Take Genesis 32:9-12:
Are you paying attention? It makes all the difference.
It's not like the first time I took my oldest out driving, started her at a stop sign in our quiet neighborhood and assumed she would know how to turn the steering wheel. Man, if street signs could talk, they would tell you about the day a crazy, tiny ginger played chicken with them.
We're only a few lessons in with my son, but so far, so good. One of the things I'm teaching him is that you have to pay attention when you're driving. This would seem obvious, but my experiences with so many other drivers tells me it isn't.
Nowhere is this more painful than at four-way stops. It may seem confusing, but only if you don't understand how a clock works. (You see, the driver to the left yields to the driver on the right, and then it works around the intersection clockwise.)
Of course, knowing how clocks work might be asking a lot for a generation that mostly uses digital.
I could forgive drivers for not knowing if it's clockwise or counter-clockwise, or even knowing their right from their left. But when you start flashing your lights at me to go first when I haven't even fully come to a stop at a four-way section?
That's when the passive-aggressive me comes out. Do you know about the friendly wave or head-nod that you give people for letting you go first? Yeah, you won't get that from me when you've signaled me to go first when I haven't yet even stopped.
I know. I'm not one to be trifled with.
Are There Other Benefits To Paying Attention?
Why yes, yes there are. I'm glad you asked.
Paying attention would help in so many areas of life. Having intelligent conversations where you listen to the other person and carefully consider their viewpoint. This could, and should, happen before you state your own views, which may or may not have been born out of any diversity of thought.
How about in the area of gift giving? Tis the season, after all, and how often have you found yourself wondering what people would like to receive? Paying attention to their personality and needs throughout the year could help you narrow down some possibilities.
I'm So Broke I Can't Pay Attention
I've been reading through Genesis lately, which you may have noticed from some of my recent posts, like this one or that one.
I've come across Jacob, grandson of Abraham. My wife pointed out he's kind of a seedy guy for someone listed among the heroes of God. She's not wrong, but it gives me hope. He had some very clear promises from God and did his part in making sure those promises came to fruition.
I'm not recommending that we should attempt the heavy-lifting to see God's promises come true. I think trust works a bit differently than that. But even when Jacob prayed, he kept reminding God of the promises. Take Genesis 32:9-12:
Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”My first response to Jacob's prayer is to wish I had such clear promises from God. I also silently judge Jacob for not trusting God more. Only once the thought is fully formed do I realize how many of God's promises I have not been paying attention to. Here's just a few examples.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:19
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose ~Romans 8:28
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ~James 1:5It turns out that if I were paying attention, I'd be seeing things differently. Coming to the stops and starts and intersections of life would be less confusing and cause less passive-aggressive responses from me.
Are you paying attention? It makes all the difference.
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