Reflection: Habits of attention

Light is a feast of attention. It streams through a window blind, casting geometric patterns; goldens our balcony at magic hour; spangles over my bed, warms an intimate conversation, flickers over a book, draws me in to a campfire glow. I never tire of the wonder.

In the overlap of heaven and earth, living in the light can be a feast of attention too.

As children of the Light we are attentive to God and his ways in the world—discerning what is good, right and true. Let that feast spill in continual praise and worship of him: always thanking; again, and again, and again.

“… like a guest who arrives at a house and carefully notices everything that has been done for him: ‘Oh, I love the little soaps you put out!  Why, there are flowers in my room!  A mint is on my pillow!  You didn’t have to go to all this trouble!’  Why is it that we are thankful for the towel left folded on the foot of our bed when we are staying at someone’s house, but we are not thankful for the dew left on the grass in the morning? Both were done because someone was excited to have us here.” (G.K. Chesterton, ‘Orthodoxy’) *

Anyone can feast on the wonder of light and be grateful, just like the crowds feasted on Jesus’ miraculous picnics and were delightfully satisfied. Thankful and well-fed, said Jesus, …but not understanding.

Prayer:

Give us attentive eyes and understanding minds to your shafts of grace in your world, merciful Father. Fuel us with daily mercies so we can focus our forever-worship on you. Give insight to light-seekers today. May they be drawn from your gifts to the Giver and turn to worship you.

 For [your] daily mercies, be [your] name adored.

More than all we thank [you] for [yourself], O Lord.              (song by Frank Houghton)

*  For a quotation from Chesterton on gratitude (click this link)