As research continues to expose the catastrophic consequences of unreflective social media use—especially but not only for the young, we realize it is emblematic of a deeper problem affecting all of us. Most troubling is that this problem is so normal and so fostered by common attitudes and practices that it grows unnoticed. What is this problem?
We consistently turn our attention away from where it belongs. Put otherwise, we live in varying degrees of distraction from what really matters right now in our life. In this splintering within our reason and will and our attention and affection, we are enervated and unstrung. Our relationships suffer. Real peace escapes us.
This affects even, perhaps especially, the serious and well-intentioned. We are designed to be concerned about and so attend to the needs and desires of people around us. But what if we are literally bombarded with the life-stuff (be it good or bad, beautiful or ugly, serious or banal) of numbers of people beyond a reasonable measure—beyond a ‘human scale?’
In a remarkable commentary on Christ interacting with his disciples in the presence of a great multitude, Thomas Aquinas writes that we see “his maturity, for he is not distracted by what does not concern him, but is appropriately concerned with his disciples.” I am not a theologian and make no claim to give a satisfactory account of this stunning statement—which certainly could be misunderstood. But I think perhaps we can say this: it takes maturity to recognize and enact the human scale of life. The Latin text translated here as ‘not distracted’ could be literally rendered ‘he did not turn his eyes this way and that,’ but rather remained focused on those sitting with him.
Maturity. To keep one’s eyes focused where they should be; to attend to what calls for attending.
It goes without saying that Christ attended also to the multitude. (I find myself wondering: perhaps when Christ attends to people it is never so much to a ‘multitude,’ but rather to one as sitting right before him.) There are times for us to attend to the various things and people in our life. But maturity demands that such attention be properly limited, i.e., focused, according to the real demands of human scale. Otherwise nothing and no one will receive the ‘attention’ needed.
But so much today actively draws us, can seem to force us, to attend to too many things and people out of context. Texting, emails, and social media bring the life issues of numerous others before our eyes without respect of the times and spaces necessary to attend to what should concern us here and now. Pedalers of ‘news,’ in the guise of presenting what we ‘need’ to know, constantly distract us from what is before us. News is all-pervasive, always a click away when not actually popping up on computer or phone, and so it often dominates our conversations and even the inner sanctuary of our minds.
We can re-focus. The very word focus implies that our depth of field is limited. We must, with humility and tenacity, turn our attention away from some things in order really to see other things. We leave aside certain things not because they are unimportant, but because this is not their time. The word distraction etymologically implies drawn out or spread out too far–away from where we should be.
Aquinas’s notion of maturity takes us to the heart of human life, and in a sense I even dare say divine life: it is always a being-present-in-the-now. Undistracted, as it were. Not surprisingly, this masterpiece takes cultivation and so awareness of its specific demands. It is our privilege and calling to seek such the maturity of not-being-distracted by what does not concern us, so as truly to see and enact what does. ~ ~ ~
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He was not distracted, He did not turn His eyes away. Wisdom in its simplest and most direct form, and a return to traditional constraints such as: don’t gossip, and mind your business. The result is, I believe, greater inner peace.
Completely agreed, Bob; nice extrapolation.
“…we live in varying degrees of distraction from what really matters right now in our life.” It was much easier to stay focused when my kids were young and needed near-constant attention.
Very interesting comment, Christian. I think we parents still in the thick of it wouldn’t yet have this perspective.
Thank you for the wisdom, Dr. C.
I wonder how you, and readers, manage to be aware of what’s going on in the world without being deluged by news?
There are so many sources. And we can be aware of what’s happening in dozens of other nations, and numerous regions and cities and towns in our own country.
What I am attempting to do is to prioritize sources, relying on a few trusted ones, and regions. Of course the most important region is my own family. Yet as a responsible adult, I must be aware of life beyond the confines of my family.
Doing— actively living in the moment, with family and friends and colleagues and faith fellows— has a prioritized space in life, yet it cannot be compartmentalized away from knowing.
I wonder how others balance it all.
Ang, Thanks for a great musing. Here is a quick thought of mine r.e. news: one simple thing that I’m finding very important is that I limit the number of times that I look at, read etc the news. I’m trying never to turn to news simply as down time or a ‘rest’ from other things, for then I would start turning more and more to it. I completely agree that finding a few reliable sources is key, and then focus on using them in an intentional way to gather the information needed, and then be done with it. I find it’s so easy to slip into just using news as a diversion. Finally, to go back to a higher level principle: ‘balance’ most comes from proper prioritizing, which includes seeking the lower precisely in service of the higher. This is helpful to reflect on: just WHY am I seeking news anyway? Thanks again.
“We are designed to be concerned about and so attend to the needs and desires of people around us. But what if we are literally bombarded with the life-stuff (be it good or bad, beautiful or ugly, serious or banal) of numbers of people beyond a reasonable measure—beyond a ‘human scale?’”
I have always believed this. Back before the internet when TV was king, I realized that even the local news of a large metropolitan area is too much for one person to handle. Multiple murders, rapes, robberies, and other horrific things brought front and center because “if it bleeds it leads”.So I quit watching and gained back my peace.
You are blessed that you saw this early on, and acted on it!
I agree. News is mostly murder, death, kill. The good human stories are buried or nonexistent it seems. I stopped watching the news years ago. I currently pick and choose what I decide to read, in order to stay up to date on current events.
This is very grounding advice, It helps me to keep a paper planner and set priorities for each week, each day (and ideally each month and quarter). I also stay generally away from the news. Usually when something really important happens I hear about it and can read more if I want. I don’t watch live TV, only streaming, where I can choose what I see for the most part. In social media, I unfollow individuals and follow only groups that post things I’m interested in. It ties into the first principle of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: be proactive, which involves spending most of one’s time and energy on what one is responsible for and can control, not things that are outside of one’s actual area of influence. You’re right that it’s an uphill battle these days!
Your note that Jesus focused on his disciples consistently when there were thousands of people milling around is revealing. His focus is also apparent when talking to the Canaanite woman; it’s not that he doesn’t care about her, but that his mission is to the lost sheep of Israel and if he dilutes that by trying to reach everyone else, too, he won’t be able to accomplish his individual mission properly. Only after his resurrection do the apostles find out that other nations will be included. And also in the story of the tower that fell on the people, he basically tells the people who ask him about it that they should just worry about their own lives and repenting for their own sins, not why the people were killed in the accident.
Thank you, Goldberry. Very helpful reference to Our Lord’s words about the tower that fell on the people.
If daily we all prayed for God to give us the grace “ to be more like Mary and less like Martha” we would not be distracted and instead keep our focus on our Lord & Savior. Sometimes easier said than done, but a wonderful goal to work towards in our busy lives.
Thanks Ted. You know I suppose Martha too had to learn how to keep her focus even while she was so busy. In that sense, we might strive to be like her!
Paraphrasing a discussion between Wormwood and Screwtape. You don’t have to get humans to do evil things. Just keep them distracted enough such that they don’t do what their Maker intended or designed them to do.
Technology, cell phones, the internet, etc. have great potential for good, but have been nearly entirely co-oped by totalitarians. Nearly everything people see/read/hear today has been tightly scripted and designed to distract, pit us against each other, profit from, and otherwise control people.
30 years in marketing and using tech has taught me this. Be careful (intentional) who you listen to.
Thank you, Thomas, for these words stemming from your experience.