The blackberry kept chirping. There was part of me that wanted to ignore it and whatever was coming in by simply turning it off. I knew I needed to listen. I understood things were urgent. I also could feel a numbing sense of exhaustion. The signals mixed up into a conflicting mess.
As I scanned the urgent notes and began returning phone calls, I realized how many indicators were floating in and out on your life and mine. They come in all forms. From the obvious – emails, telephone calls, text messages, and bits of paper – to ones more subtle, our days are filled with people trying to reach our hearts and minds. It can be overwhelming. Noise permeates every corner. Data and information flood our senses. Messages come through all kinds of passages. The question is never one of quantity.
As insistent as they are, I realize that we have a choice. We can ignore, pushing them aside and focusing on what we believe is more important. We can let them shape our day, being available to respond. Additionally, we can let others help us focus.
On this day, I chose the latter. By letting those I trust speak to me directly, drawing my attention to crucial matters, I was able to let go and yet still embrace.
It is a model frequently used by others. Those we trust have access to our hearts in ways others do not. I have come to believe this is far more beneficial that I first realized. It opens us up to the unexpected. When “the centurion brought him [Paul’s nephew] to the captain and said, ‘The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He said he has something urgent to tell you.’” (Acts 23.18) The captain was willing to hear what he otherwise could not see.
In being available to trusted friends, one can prioritize time in ways that benefits a broader community. By choosing where I focus my attention, I shape my priorities and values. The process requires my presence, trust, and faith.
