Distraction & Attention

We were made for connection—with God and with others. But when our lives are overrun by distraction our capacity for loving connection wears thin. Our thinking and our relationships become shallow. And we eventually become like whatever we give our attention to.

How can followers of Jesus reclaim their powers of attention in a world where, as Richard Foster writes, ​“Our Adversary the devil majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds”? How can we keep Jesus Christ as the center or our lives when our distracting, tech-saturated environments leave us more and more fragmented? Is it really possible to slow down, savor, and be present, in today’s world?

In this webinar, Jay Kim (lead pastor of WestGate Church in Silicon Valley, host of IVP’s Digital Examen podcast, and author of The Pace of Peace and Analog Christian) and Grace Pouch (Renovaré Content Manager, author of Savoring Childhood: Practical Wisdom for Slowing Down, and co-founder of Upstate Unplugged) will help us think through what distraction costs us and how the life of Jesus and the wisdom of Christ-followers through the centuries can point us to practices that will help us and our families live deeper, more connected, and more joyful lives.

Guided by participant questions, host Carolyn Arends will talk to Jay and Grace about topics like:

• Why is distraction a spiritual problem and not just a practical one?
• Can attention be built up like a muscle? What ​“exercises” serve to strengthen attention?
• What does the Christian tradition say about attention, and how does that differ from the pop-wisdom of productivity culture?
• What is an ​“examined” life, and what does it look like in an ordinary week?
• How can we slow down as families, and what do children gain when we do?
• What are some simple, sustainable ways to reclaim attention from the unprecedented pull of high-speed, portable, and pervasive digital media?
• Besides media, what are other contemporary sources of distraction, and what small choices can help individuals and families reclaim a spacious, reflective life?

Submit your questions when you register and join us for this hopeful and practical conversation.