To What Do You Pay Attention?

One of the most frequently quoted lines of the poet Mary Oliver is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” It is also instructive to consider a different twist on this question: “Tell me, what is it you plan to pay attention to in your one wild and precious life?”

It is difficult not to be anxious as we live in the midst of a pandemic. However, we can alleviate that anxiety by going on a “media fast”—that is, limiting the amount of virus-related news that we consume each day. By now, we all know how to keep ourselves as safe as possible: hand washing, disinfecting, wearing masks and gloves, and social distancing. A quick scan of the headlines in the morning and evening is enough to keep us updated on any relevant developments, potentially freeing up hours each day during which we can turn our attention to more life-giving activities, such as reaching out to others in creative ways, praying, exercising, gardening, making music or art, and learning new skills.

Just as the foods that we choose to eat can literally clog us or cleanse us, the news we choose to imbibe can clog us with depression and anxiety or cleanse us with hope. Bad food and bad news will continue to exist if we choose to filter them from our lives, but to some extent, by limiting our exposure to them, we can rob them of their power to affect our physical and mental health.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” Now that we are in the midst of troubling times, will we allow ourselves to be guided by his words? As the 14th century mystic Julian of Norwich said, “If there is anywhere on earth a lover of God who is always kept safe, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown to me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in that same precious love.” Personally, in my one wild and precious life, I’d rather meditate on that than on the day’s fleeting headlines.