Attentiveness

One of Simone Weil's insight drives home an important point in education.

School children and students who love God should never say: 'For my part I like mathematics' ; 'I like French'; 'I like Greek.' They should learn to like all these subjects, because all of them develop that faculty of attention which, directed towards God, is the very substance of prayer.

Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD) is a problem that is affecting a lot of modern school going children. Interestingly, a recent research shows that ADHD is NOT caused by frequent TV watching, caffeine, high sugar, or poor school results. In fact, what is true is that nobody really knows what causes it. Some say genetics, others say environment and so on. I am no psychologist, but I do observe that all people do get into some form of minor depression after 1.5 to 2 hours of watching TV or playing computer games. That TV and modern electronic devices are changing a person's capacity to pay attention must not be ignored. No evidence to prove a direct link does not mean there is no link.

Elia, J., Ambrosini, P.J., & Rapoport, J.L.(1999). Treatment of Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. The New England Journal of Medicine. 340,(10), 780-788.

Based on the empirical findings, it would seem that the genetic component is more probable at this stage of research. While the scientific and medical community continues to research in the areas of attention deficit, we must not forget that faith is not to be overlooked. If we ask our Father for bread, would He give us a stone? Likewise, if we ask for faith, God will give.

Prayer is a time in which we are able to pay attention to God. Lay hold of attentiveness, for I sense that many of us has a spiritual form of ADHD, with so many different types of distractions.How many times have we in our state of anxiety, panicked over missed deadlines or despair over work undone and in the process, tried to tie up our loose ends on human strength? How often have we allowed our frantic selves to look at all channels other than God? Chances are, we tried to do God's work in our own strength that leads to burn out. Pray often, for in prayer, we not only draw on the greatest power but we also develop that spiritual attentiveness, so essential to discernment and spiritual wisdom from above.

ks