Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day. Matthew 6:34
In the last reflection, we discussed the importance of focusing on today. In this reflection, we focus on the importance of each moment of the day. For some, even the day is overwhelming, and it’s important to focus on the moments throughout the day. Here’s what I mean:
Despite that popularity of the term “multi-tasking”, it is really not possible to do more than one important task at a time. I can fold laundry while watching TV, as neither of those actions requires much brain power. I can talk on the phone while driving (if wearing an earpiece) or washing dishes. But if I’ doing something important, I can only do one thing at a time. Because at any given time I have many things to do on my task list, I have to focus on one task at a time in order to get any of the tasks done. But what happens when there is an event or an appointment that is not on my task list? If is very easy to keep my mind on the list and away from the event if I’m not careful.
For instance, on many days there is a church service in the morning. That commits me to two hours in the church. Doing that two hours, I cannot talk on the phone, sit at the computer, or meet with anyone. So, I have two choices during that two-hour period. I can either put all other thoughts of tasks out of my mind and focus on worship, or I can worry and brood over the tasks that I’m not getting done and after two hours, I will not have worshipped or got any tasks done. I will have wasted two hours.
It’s the same thing when I visit a hospital or meet with someone for counseling. I can either be with them, putting aside thoughts of other tasks, or I can be distracted with other thoughts and this again wastes time, the tasks don’t get done and I’m not present with the person in front of me.
Regardless of what roles you have in your life, the scenario plays out in some way for all of us. Imagine your child needs help with their homework, or asks you to play a game with them. You are preoccupied with writing Christmas cards and then paying bills. But you decide to be with your child. If you’ve made the decision to be with your child, then BE WITH YOUR CHILD. Because if you are trying to be with your child while thinking of something else, you aren’t going to get the something else done and you won’t be with your child either.
Many attempts at multi-tasking actually result in wasting time with no tasks being accomplished.
Being one hundred percent present is something we really have to learn and strive for. Because with the phones and other media available at our fingertips almost constantly, there is a constant temptation to multi-task or be distracted.
I’m still learning how to be present all the time and not get distracted. The moment that we are in is the only moment we have. Whatever happened an hour ago is over and there is no guarantee there will be a next hour, really for any of us. Thus, we need to learn to make each moment count.
Imagine if we all made it a goal to make the person in front of us at any given moment the most important person in our lives. We’ve already discussed how our neighbor is the person closest to us at any given moment. So, imagine if when you are talking to someone, you view them as the most important person in your life. Because at that given moment, they are. When I meet with someone in my office, it’s just the two of us. My wife is not present, our son is not present, other parishioners are not present. My world, for that moment, has been reduced to one person. Ideally, that person should be treated as the most important person in the world, because for that moment, that person is my entire world.
Today’s encouragement is to focus on your day one moment at a time, and treat each person you meet as if they were the most important person in the world, because for the moments you are together, they actually are your whole world. Multi-tasking is okay when it comes to tasks that require little thought and no emotion. But when dealing with people and problems, it’s really best, and most respectful to deal with them one thing at a time. Finally, prayer is not a task you can combine with something else. We can’t multi-task when it comes to our quality time with the Lord. Time with God should be single-focused, it should just be about you and Him.
Of course, there is one critical way we can all multi-task. We can give glory to God while doing any task. When it comes to glorifying God, we should be constantly multi-tasking.
Lord, thank You for the gift of today. Help me to make the most of this day by being focused and present with the people I will encounter today and in the tasks that I will attempt today. Help me to treat each person I encounter as if they were the most important person in the world during the time I spend with them. And help me to maintain a clear mind, so that I can focus on one task at a time and not become overwhelmed. Help me to glorify You in all the tasks and with all the people I will encounter today. Amen.
Be present in whatever you are doing today. And take today one moment at a time. Focus on one task at a time, and you’ll find that you won’t waste as much time.
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The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyrighted 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and used by permission. From the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
