SojoMail - Spiritually distracted? Don’t blame phones

You Can’t (Fully) Blame Your Distraction on Your Phone Rose Marie Berger Have you ever had one of those perfect moments? My wife and I sat on a bench at the farmers market with a plate of steaming hot tamales before us and a bag of crisp fennel bulbs, Pink Lady apples, and fresh spinach at our feet. The air smelled of salt and cooking oil. A deep yellow and iridescent gold light wrapped around us. Every noise fell away in a holy hush. We met, however fleeting, the “still point of the turning world” described by poet T.S. Eliot. Held and beheld. To be honest, I usually miss these moments. Though I try (religiously) to keep custody of my mind and attention, the world we live in now beeps, dings, buzzes, and updates 24/7. It’s hard for God to break in. Perhaps this description of digital architecture’s pointed intrusions into our one beautiful life is too minimalist. Most days, I’m holding my breath against the crushing dynamics of digital onrush and knowledge outflow. I miss the still points between the crest and lip of that wave. But I won’t blame my “monkey mind” wholly on instant communication. An unsettled, restless, disquieted mind is as old as humanity (and perhaps distinct to us). My guess is that we’ve been prone to distraction since we first glimpsed that shiny, delicious apple, just exceeding our grasp. READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward Share

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