In today’s fast-paced world, we often find ourselves absent from our own lives. While at work, our minds wander to the comforts of home, and vice versa. This constant state of distraction prevents us from being fully present in our lives and relationships.

Renowned psychologist Henry Cloud emphasizes the detrimental effects of this lack of connection. He explains that just as babies deprived of meaningful relational connections fail to thrive, so do we when we lack connection in our lives. This absence of connection can lead to physical and emotional deficits, as well as hinder our personal growth and development.

This sense of disconnection also extends to our faith. We often blame God for being absent from our lives when, in reality, it is us who are absent from Him. In the digital age, the question is not about God’s presence in our lives, but rather our presence in His.

Regrettably, many of us are so distracted that we settle for a mediocre version of our faith. We become absent from our own spiritual growth and relationship with God.

The key to overcoming this is mastering the art of paying attention. Attention is a precious commodity in our world, and paying attention is an art to be mastered. Our life experiences are shaped by what we choose to pay attention to.

Attention is a precious commodity in our world, and paying attention is an art to be mastered.

Just as a doctor attends to his patients’ needs, we are called by God to attend to those around us. By checking in on them, caring for them, and using our resources to help them thrive, we can live a life of presence.

In his book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman argues that information overload often leads us to become LIARs – those with a Low Information-to-Action Ratio. To counter this, we should strive to become LOVERs – Listen, Observe, Value, Encourage, and Respond.

This approach requires breaking the power of habituation, a phenomenon where our awareness of a new stimulus fades over time. By consciously breaking this habit, we can change our perspective and become more present in our relationships.

To live a life of presence and overcome distractions, we must master the art of paying attention. We must strive to be present in our own lives, in our relationships, and in our faith. Only then can we truly thrive and live a fulfilling life.