Pay Attention

Today my wife and I went to Busch Gardens in Tampa.  We have season Passports there and have used them many times.  Both she and I enjoy going there as much as we can.  We both love roller coasters (specifically the Montu) and she really loves the animals…and I love watching her light up when she sees them.

While trudging through the crowds, something occurred to me that never had before. You see, every time we go, I tend to get all bent out of shape about people that have no self-awareness.  Let me explain: self-awareness means being aware of your own feelings, tastes, desires, etc.  But I take it a step further (if there is an official term that defines this please let me know…).  I believe that self-awareness also means being aware of your surroundings.  It really ticks me off when you’re walking along, and the people walking in front of you just stop…and then you run slap into them, or almost fall all over yourself trying not to.  Or people are just wandering around not looking where they are going and completely run you over.  Or they are just standing in the middle of a thoroughfare.  I think you get my drift.

This kind of behavior really sets me off. To me, you’re encroaching on my rights as a human being when you aren’t aware of what you are doing and run me over.  Sure, there are exceptions–like when you are trying to find your kids in a crowd, or craning to see something interesting.  But even then, you should at least be paying attention!

And this happens all over the place.  Like in grocery stores–the people who stop to look at something but leave their buggy in the middle of the aisle completely blocking you and everyone else trying to get through.  Move your junk so the rest of us can move on!

But what actually occurred to me, probably at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, was that this is our problem altogether.  We aren’t paying enough attention to what is actually going on around us.  We walk right by people that are hurting all of the time.  Some of us fail to notice.  Some of us choose not to notice.  Some of us notice but don’t care.  It’s the same as all those people in a crowded amusement park.  Except people’s very lives are in jeopardy–or maybe even their eternity, and we walk right by without paying any attention.  Maybe all that’s needed is someone to stop and listen.  Or maybe a warm meal.  Or maybe the fact that someone loved them enough to die on a cross for them.

WHY AREN’T WE PAYING ATTENTION!!!

Those of you (myself included), this is a call to wake up and pay attention.  Be aware of your surroundings.  Get your buggies out of the way.  And reach out with the gifts and talents and the wherewithal that you’ve been divinely blessed with.

Pay attention.