Australian educator Jonathan Doyle has a favourite saying: “Wherever you are, be all there”.
In a world where time is becoming one of our rarest resources, it is a life motto few would be able to fully embrace.
Doyle, the founding director of Choicez Media, explores the concept in an article entitled Living the Season You’re In – the choice to be mindful and attentive to every given moment.
The irony, sadly, is that many of us do not allow ourselves enough time to contemplate the wisdom of such observations. I know I don’t.
In the rare moments I allow myself to become conscious of my thoughts, the more I become aware of how scattered they can be.
For example, despite the fact I am well aware of the precious and unrepeatable window I have in spending time with my children while they are young, in hindsight I realise that my physical presence has not always equated to my mental one.
How often have I been kicking a ball with my son, playing ‘Shop’ with my daughters, or even having dinner with my wife, but my thoughts have wandered to matters outside these moments.
In essence, I am robbing them of my full presence and also robbing myself of theirs. The same could be applied to our work life.
Are we really fully present and focused, or have the meanderings of our minds hindered us from giving our complete attention to the task at hand?
When we are out socially, are we giving 100 per cent to the person we are communicating with or are we mentally elsewhere?
My self-analysis revealed that most of my diversionary wanderings are born from concerns that are outside my control and they are robbing me from fully appreciating the moment I am in.
As I contemplate my growing ‘to do’ list, worry about the next bill, or stress about the future, I am partially withdrawing myself from the person I am with or the activity I am undertaking, but such double-mindedness is not God’s plan for any of us.
Yet how often are our thoughts splintered – scattered in many directions and embracing none? Being mindful of our own mindfulness is a challenging task to undertake but I believe it can quite accurately reflect the relationship we have with God.
The degree we allow ourselves to be consumed by the worries of this world will most likely mirror the trust we have in our heavenly Father.
Jesus said as much: “If a very small thing is beyond your powers, why worry about the rest?” (Lk 12:27).
God knows everything you need, he said, and will provide them if you simply set your heart upon his kingdom and not get caught up with the concerns of this world.
Yet how often do we give God our undivided attention? Do we invite him into every aspect of our lives and completely embrace the person or moment we are in, or do we simply feign trust and allow ourselves to become burdened by circumstances outside our control?
The relationship we have with God will reflect all other relationships we have in our lives.
It is why he pulls no punches in his desire for our full attention. “Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth,” (Rev 3:16).
He would rather we were honest and gave him no attention than pretend and be half-hearted.
If I do not entrust every aspect of my life to him, then I have no other option but take on the burden myself.
And if I choose to live in this way it should come as no surprise that I cannot fully connect with the moment or relationship I am experiencing.
That is not to say we should condemn ourselves. It is a natural part of the human condition that our minds will be drawn to our worldly concerns, but it is our choice in what we then do with these thoughts.
If we choose, in any degree, to carry them on our own shoulders, then we should expect to live with the fragmented mind-set that this creates – both towards God and our brothers and sisters.
If, however, we choose to entrust them to God we will be free to embrace the fullness of our human experience. But our trust must be complete – 99 per cent is not enough.
“Wherever you are, be all there.”