Pay Attention to...
Linda Soller | Feb 09, 2015
May I direct your attention to…? It sounds like something you might hear on a tour as the docent leads the group through the gallery pointing out works of art. With the use of technology we send our photo or our opinion directly out in to a waiting world. It is our way of saying, pay attention to me, now! When did we decide everyone wants to know our comings and goings? When did we start assuming that our own image was so important to others? How did we survive before this time of instant gratification? At the risk of sounding like someone stuck in the past, I feel some of our current trends are a bit misguided.
This is Valentine’s Day week. Love is in the air, pink is all around, and chocolate flows freely. For this week in particular love has our attention. There are cards for family and friends. There are flowers sent to mothers and daughters as well as girlfriends. Indeed in most schools your child must give everyone a card in their class or no cards can be given at all. My granddaughter’s day care gives parents of list of names of the toddlers in class so the parents may prepare Valentines cards for everyone. As a rule, one year olds can’t write, or read. No doubt many cards will go straight to their mouths and none will be remembered past lunch time. None the less, there will be cards. The line between reasonable love and misguided love can be blurry, allowing some to cross it with no turning back.
Don’t get me wrong, I love love. If there was more love in the world, certainly it would be a happier and safer place, but love takes effort if it’s to be meaningful and long standing. Love may require restraint, and sacrifice, ask any parent. If you love someone you can accept them and their imperfections. This may be harder if you yourself have no imperfections, I can only speculate since I don’t have firsthand knowledge. In the movies, on T.V., and in books you would be told to believe that you may love anyone you want regardless of vows, connections, or loyalties already in place. This is not a new direction for love. Adultery was addressed in the Ten Commandments. Misguided love has always been around, just take the story of David and Bathsheba. David had more than most people of his time would ever even dream of, yet he wanted the wife of another man. She got his attention so much so he was able to justify in his mind unspeakable actions. It was lucky for David God forgives, and it’s also lucky for us.
When our attention is misdirected, or our love is misguided, we may neglect those who truly deserve both. This week as we are surrounded by all things love. We need to give our attention to love that makes a difference in someone’s life. We need to focus less on self-love especially if it has evolved to selfish love. We need to recognize in a world where love can seem so prolific, true love can be extraordinarily scarce. We need to see the love in simple acts of kindness. We need to pay attention to the love of God.
Have a great week and a Happy Valentine’s Day! :o) Linda