Undivided
It annoys me and it happens almost every day. It’s not right. It’s certainly not human. And in no way is it sustainable as one ages. Before I say one more word (for my own safety) I want you to know that, “it” annoys me, not that “she” annoys me. The “she” is my wife. The “it” is her uncanny ability to multitask efficiently and consistently at home and work.
Just the other night we were sitting on the couch watching an episode of Dancing with the Stars (don’t knock it – happy wife, happy life) and I glanced over at her. There she was with one headphone in her ear, listening to her latest book on Audible and looking at a media list for one her new clients on her laptop, all while busying her hands with a crafting project.
This is real.
How could this be? How could she be engaged in the show that we were watching? How could she know what’s going on or feel the contestant’s angst and process tomorrow’s press release at the same time? This has been going on for the past 13 years that we’ve been together. There have been times where I have tried to entrap her to see if she’s really paying attention to what we are watching. I’ve asked questions about events in the show that didn’t happen, obscure details that require laser-like focus, and even her opinion on the last commercial. Each time, I marvel at her comprehension and ability to completely be engaged in all things at once while her attention is divided. And when I say I marvel, I mean I marvel at how truly bothered I am. She is unlike anyone I know.
For the record, I’m not annoyed by her actions. I’m annoyed because I can’t multi task. I can’t even listen to music and type this sentence. I’m a one-thing-at-a-time-so-I-can-focus kind of guy.
The other day I was in the movie theater and was so engaged in the film that there were times I held popcorn in my hand close to my mouth, but not in my mouth, until the scene changed. I can’t hold my two-year old and talk on the phone at the same time and I can’t wash the dishes while listening to someone speak. It’s bad, I admit, but as I was reading in Psalms late last week, something jumped off the page that made me feel that in some ways it might be a good thing.
Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 NIV
Being the king of Israel, ruler of God’s chosen people, came with immense pressure and duty. From his obligations as king, to his ever growing family, to his many military campaigns, it is uncontested that King David had responsibilities that would keep him occupied and diversified in time, energy, and emotion.
Yet, what we read in this prayer is something that would be valuable to take and apply to ourselves. He mentions two words that stand out to me. The first is the word heart. Notice that he used this word rather than the word mind. The mind of a person can be in multiple places at one time. To operate successfully in our current culture we all need to have the ability to think on different avenues at various times throughout the day. I personally see this proven by my wife every night. However, for the heart to function properly, it needs to be undivided. It needs to beat for one thing, one purpose, and remain free of distractions and enemies to it’s singular focus. When the heart of person becomes overloaded in its direction and desire, confusion and weariness tend to follow. It isn’t long until that type of heart will reach out to unhealthy outlets to relieve pressure that the division has caused.
The second word in this verse that spoke to me is the word give. This word cannot be overlooked as David was asking God to GIVE him something that he himself could not provide. As I read the book of Psalms, I am of the opinion that David was very much in tune with the frailty of his heart. I feel he was simply submitting to the understanding that at any moment he could be drawn away and enticed by temptations, power and success. What a pure and pleasing request this must have been to God! David was someone of supreme power in his own country, one who was victorious in battle from a young age, one who had the favor of the people he led. Yet all he asks of God is to impart into him a heart that would revere and honor the Lord.
Today, we are as a culture, more driven, scheduled and diversified than we were ten years ago. There are more appointments, events and obligations to invest our heart into than ever before. Without warning we can unintentionally slip into committing ourselves to things that offer nothing beneficial to our inner man at all. Has this simple request of an undivided heart ever left your lips? Perhaps it is time for us to pause and to ask God for this singularity of purpose and vision. I fully believe that God will not only honor our petition, but also empower us to maintain a laser focus. It is the perfect starting point for our day, a request that will set the tone for us investing in what matters, what benefits others, and what is eternal. Let us be undivided.
