My recent time away allowed for some increased observation. It’s a fun exercise… you sit back, relax, take a little bit of extra time, maybe where never intended…
Breathe, say very little, refrain from comment…
You watch what everyone else is doing. You watch it. Consider it. No judgment.
I’m not talking about the quirkish, cultural sport of people watching; you know the one… you select a solid location… stay unobtrusive… watch with good intent… etc., etc., etc. (note: part of that was borrowed from “Wiki’s How to Do Anything”… can you believe it? We actually have an available guide as to “How to Begin People Watching.”).
What I more observed was what people are talking about — what we’re focused on.
Put away for a moment all Trump and Clinton conversation. Sorry, but this has become a little too much for me. We’re electing a president — not deciding who is king or God (… who, by the way, never runs against any noteworthy suitor).
Over the past three weeks, people have focused on much…
On Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte — and was he or was he not, robbed in Rio at gunpoint…
On the release of “Suicide Squad,” DC Comic’s latest, greatest theatrical release, where a team of dangerous criminals are utilized as supposedly disposable assets in high-risk missions for the United States government… (… am I the only one who isn’t that comfortable doing anything under the potential promotion of “suicide”?)…
And then there was this past weekend… on the NFL quarterback who refused to stand during the National Anthem, suggesting that he’s intentionally protesting an oppressive country… (… never mind that his past behavior has been questionable)…
It’s amazing to me what we focus on.
I’ll grant you this: sometimes the media drives — or attempts to drive — our focus. I really dislike that. There’s too much bias in our media.
All that said, I don’t think as a culture, we’re all that wise on what we focus on. Two reasons why… and finally… today’s two quotes… from two wonderfully wise ones…
First…
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
And second…
“Whatever we pay attention to, grows.”
Put those together. I have a feeling — granted, just a feeling — that we are paying attention to a whole lot of things that are growing, but are not that noble, reputable, best, beautiful, or wise…
I wonder why… I wonder how life would be different if our focus was, too…
Respectfully…
AR