Mindfulness is having a moment.
From TikTok and bestselling books to an app that helps teens overcome depression, mindfulness is appearing in classrooms, training rooms and corporate offices. A Cambridge University study last year estimated that mindfulness training is offered in more than 600 companies globally and 79% of U.S. medical schools.
It might be easy to dismiss this movement if we only see it as another way to focus on ourselves. Quotes like this from author Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” make me question if mindfulness conflicts with the eternal focus of my faith: “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.”
But since we need to be fully present to do effective ministry, we might benefit from being more attentive to the here and now. Attention is the first step in sensing the needs of others, recognizing opportunities to speak truth and acting when we see suffering.
Jesus modeled paying attention. He used the disciples’ observations and questions as opportunities to teach wisdom. He did it when he responded to their comments about the temple’s majesty.
“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).
He did it when he responded to James and John about who would sit at his side, saying, “…and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:44).
Noticing the logs in our eyes instead of the specks in our neighbor’s eyes is only possible when we are engaged in the moment.
In “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” author John Mark Comer gives another example in the story of Jesus on his way to healing the dying daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official. Despite the urgency of the task— especially through the eyes of the anxious father Jairus— Jesus interacts with a woman who is suffering from internal bleeding. In the midst of going to a dying girl, Jesus stops to minister to this woman in need (Mark 5 and Luke 8).
Comer writes, “I’m struck by how fiercely present Jesus was, how he would not let anything or anyone… rush him into the next moment.”
I contrast that with my tendency to demonstrate what scientists call “inattentional blindness.” The human body processes a sight, but the person doesn’t register what they see.
The phenomenon was illustrated in the famous study documenting how few people noticed a man in a gorilla suit as they intentionally watched a video of people passing a basketball. I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out I am surrounded by men in gorilla suits daily.
But many influences can distract us from the moment. Past sins and failures may distort our vision.
We may misremember the past as glory days that can’t compare to today. We can also be preoccupied with comparing our actual experience to our expectations, tabulating where reality falls short.
And then there’s my tendency to worry, a behavior Jesus called out at length in Matthew 6. If we want to be in the moment, what should we do?
On the surface, it is about putting down our phones, stopping our multi-tasking, making eye contact and practicing active listening. But it is much deeper than that.
It is a posture of engagement, awareness and discovery. It is the childlike wonder of seeing something for the first time, even if it’s something we’ve experienced thousands of times before.
Following Jesus’ example also means focusing on people. During a conversation, consider what the other person is thinking at that moment.
What issues do they bring that occupy their thoughts? What are they saying and what are they intending to communicate?
At the same time, what are you thinking? What biases, concerns, and expectations are you bringing? Seek Holy Spirit guidance to fully connect with the other person.
The pace of life today can be so intense that we often feel like we need to speed up to keep up. But Jesus gives us a counter-cultural example of not letting the world’s urgency distract us from the needs of the people around us.
If we want our ministry to be effective, we should begin by being present where we are.
We don’t need to make “the Now” our only focus. But we also don’t want to miss anyone wearing a gorilla suit.
Tom C. Petersen is a former utility communications professional who writes about work and faith. His new book is titled, “Thank God It’s Monday(?): Balancing Work and Faith While Keeping Your Sense of Humor.”
