New Graces

Paying attention has never been a personal strength. As a kid, I doodled my way through many classes. As an adult, I have started far more projects than I have

finished. The older I get, the less focused I seem to be.

Just this morning, while frying sausage, my attention was diverted by a sudden urge to empty the dishwasher. About halfway into that job, I started working on a mental "to do list." Then I began feeling a bit harried at being engaged in three separate activites at once, knowing I still needed to prepare the eggs and toast.

In that moment I paused to reassess my behavior. I thought to myself, do I really need to do all of this multi-tasking right now? What if, instead, I focused on the original task of preparing breakfast and only that? So I did. And what a difference that small decision made.

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Not only did my breakfast turn out just the way I like it - which by the way never seems to happen - but the process was more enjoyable too. You see, by concentrating on the task at hand, my senses were sharpened. I started noticing alot of little things I might have missed - like the rich aromas wafting through the kitchen, the pattern of steam swirls funneling above the stove, the sounds of sizzling and popping in the frying pans. But most of all, I noticed I didn't feel as anxious as before. These were all new graces.

Maybe, by paying more attention to that still small voice within, we can all learn to slow down and experience living more fully in the present moment. I don't know about you, but after today, I think I will begin a daily practice of "mindful single-tasking!" In so doing, I will be welcoming less stress, and looking forward to new graces in ordinary places.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...

~ Ecclesiastes 3 NIV