I’ve been trying to be more mindful of doing one thing at a time. Less multitasking and more monotasking.
When I go for a walk, I walk and don’t listen to a podcast.
When I drive, I drive and don’t listen to music.
When I read, I read and put away my phone.
When I sit on the lakeshore, I watch the waves.
When I wash dishes, I wash and don’t ask Alexa for answers to questions I’m thinking.
You get the picture. It’s not new and exciting. It’s not trending anywhere. But it’s freeing. It’s calming. It’s restful. And, I hope, it’s teaching me how to pay attention better. How to be present. Especially, how to listen.
The goal for a disciple is never to think less or empty the mind. It’s never to feel “connected” or tap into an energy. The goal of the disciple is to follow Jesus. A singular task which requires all of your mind, heart, soul and strength. “All,” for which another word is “one”.
On one occasion, Jesus reminded His disciples of the most important commandment. It was “‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:28-30)
Since God is “one,” let all your heart and mind and strength be as one, singularly focused upon Him. All as one, all into one. One task. One focus. One goal.
Practically, I have without question been more productive with my time and creative with my energy when focused on one task. Without the distraction of texts or emails or notifications or tabs.
In photography, to compose a picture is to understand what your subject is first. Then it means the elimination of anything that would distract from that subject. The focal point determines all else.
I admit that in our times of corporate worship when the focal point of my heart should be Jesus, I get distracted. I glance around at who is and who isn’t present. I will look at my phone—what time is it?—I forgot to check off that reminder. I will remember a detail about my sermon. A lot can happen in the span of a few seconds!
Here’s the long and the short of it, Elim Grace. The discipline to focus on one thing is necessary, if we are to follow Jesus. To pray requires singular focus. To feed on the Word of God requires singular focus. To worship requires singular focus. To serve requires singular focus. And so on.
The discipline to focus on one thing, our ability to monotask, is of significantly greater importance to the overall quality of our life than our ability to multitask.
So, when you drive, drive. When you walk, walk. When you write, write. When you fold laundry, fold laundry. When you wash dishes, wash dishes. When listen to your spouse or children or friend, listen. When you sit to watch the rain, sit and watch. When you swim, swim and enjoy the water and the sun.
You get the picture. Hopefully, it’s a beautiful picture. Desirable and one that fills you with longing. And longing, I think, is another word for “joy”. Multitasking feels like you’re moving faster, while monotasking feels like you’re moving slower. But, I’m learning, and I think it’s true, joy is found in the completion of doing something well. In the being present as fully as possible. In the receiving of a “gift” which we often miss because we’re trying to do too much too fast.
Let’s monotask a little more and see what happens to our lives. To our hearts. It might be totally worth it in the long run of our life.