Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint?: Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

2011...  Click the link - Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

Distraction.

Most of the times I'm being distracted I become a distraction.

The battle for our Attention?

WIKIPEDIA: Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether considered subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information. William James (1890) wrote that "Attention is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization, concentration, of consciousness are of its essence."^[1] Attention has also been described as the allocation of limited cognitive processing resources.^[2] 

Attention is manifested by an attentional bottleneck, in terms of the amount of data the brain can process each second

The weapon of spiritual warfare against attention is "distraction"...

Do you ever think about your thoughts? Have you ever wondered why you argue with yourself?

2 Cor. 10:3-5 MEV 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

IDEA - noun.  any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.      a thought, conception, or notion:

The "Here and Now" and the Presence of God

The "Here and Now" is where we pay attention. To pay attention means to consciously focus on one aspect of that which we are aware.

We can be aware of many things in the here and now and still not pay attention to them.

Definition: the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others.

"Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether considered subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention

"Attention is the cognitive process that makes it possible to position ourselves towards relevant stimuli and consequently respond to it. This cognitive ability is very important and is an essential function in our daily lives."

https://www.cognifit.com/attention

"Attention is a complex cognitive function which is essential for human behavior. Attention is a selection process for an external (sound, image, smell...) or internal (thoughts) event which has to be maintained at a certain level of awareness. It is not a stable but rather, fluctuating skill."

http://www.happy-neuron.com/brain-and-training/attention

From all this information we begin to understand that paying attention takes conscious effort.

Two Bible verses come to mind…

Romans 8:14 All that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God.

John 10:27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

And this one…

Matthew 10:19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

These verses speak of the present-tense indicative verb of paying attention to the Holy Spirit in the here and now. Not just acknowledging God's presence but recognizing Him and "choosing" to pay attention and to engage in your relationship with Him.

The enemy does not want you to do that. He will use distraction by trying to get you to focus, not on the present situation I call the "Here and Now" but on the past using condemnation/hopelessness or the future using speculation/fear... Or both.

Reality does not exist in the future or in the past.

We exist and have our being in the "Here and Now". It is where we make our choices and decisions that will shape our future. Do you trust in your limited perspective and understanding in your situation, or will you choose to pay attention to the Lover of your Soul and trust in His Guidance and Counsel? "Now" is the time, and "here" is the place we create the future God wants us to have.

Philippians 3:12 (NLT) I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Proverbs 3:5 (CEV) With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

Distraction.

I've come to realize that worry is a distraction. You may think your worry is justified. That the time you spend worrying about it is required because your love for the one on your heart needs help.

Have you done what God asked you to do? Then give it to him.

Pay attention to your present situation. Don't be distracted by what you have no control over. The tomorrow you think will happen, you have no idea. Proverbs 3:5-6

Spend Time vs Pay Attention?

The world is full of distraction. It takes up our time, it occupies our attention.

It seems we have a lot to spare. In fact sometimes I prefer distraction when it comes to my current situation. Why? Because nothing seems to be happening...

At least from my perspective.

So I'm learning about the Bible verse that says... "Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength".

Distraction?

Back to that I go.

Distraction. Occupy your time. Use it up.

If the enemy can't deceive you he will try to distract you. Not just with worthless entertainment but with causes that we perceive as worthy.

These "causes" satisfy our need to feel justified, but fall short of explicit obedience and trust of God's will for our lives.

Distraction, Occupation and Opportunity?

This, it seems is the battle ground. The Lover of our soul orchestrates opportunity. The enemy tries to distract and take up our time so we won't take advantage of His plan.

Distraction & Occupation

God says "occupy" until I come.

Reconcile distraction.

Why do I prefer distraction in the moment? A moment that is unique, unrepeatable and when past, is unchangeable and therefore without a price?

It is because in the moment the waiting needs to be occupied. Duration is the "experienced" observation of change. And in the "cycle" I wait for "opportunity". That is the word I need to plumb.

Some random thoughts...?

What is the number of thoughts I can comprehend in any given moment?

The rate of change can vary in a given inertial frame. Does the rate of change affect the number of thoughts I can comprehend? I think... No, the rate of change is a constant of the inertial frame and therefore the number of thoughts that can be processed is also constant.

If the number of thoughts that can be processed (understood) in my inertial frame is limited then distraction can occupy my attention and I can miss the thoughts the Lover of my Soul has for me.

Are you occupied by distraction?

Connect to Reality in an Excellent way

How do we navigate through the flood of distraction and find our way to the reality of our existence?

The Excellent Way has two witnesses.

God's Initiative has provided us with #1 the Holy Scriptures, passed down through time to us. AND #2 The Holy Spirit...

John 14:26 Amplified Bible

26 But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

Distraction sought after.

I look for distraction to occupy my time. Time I have, to afford thoughts of my situation in reality. When distraction seems preferable to facing up to the facts on the ground. Distraction seems attractive.

Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

Connecting to reality, how is my pursuit of excellence confused by distraction that warps my sense of reality?

There is any number of means to have contact with those I have a connection with. Contact is the operative verb.

I am distracted by the many "goings on" that I am afforded a connection to, because of the latest communications technology. Information overload... you only overload a system when you expose it to more then it was designed to handle.

When you understand the system is designed for distraction you also realize the system is not built for excellence. I mean when you want to connect to reality.

Reality is not "our" perception. It never can be. It is His and He is the author of His plan for us. Who will you trust.

Distraction meant to occupy.

Distract and occupy. Decieve and destroy.

The creature is not independent of the Creator.

Identity, Self-conception, interpretation, unique perspective.

Patterns of behavior are a result of who we perceive ourselves to be, our identity. Our conception of self is derived from how we interpret our unique perspective that exists in the now but...

A natural man, yes I am, that broke free from the "cycle" of deception. Ill-equipped to face the challenge of condemnation or exaltation, how do I train up a son in the way that he should go.

The truth shall set you free!

Deception is the norm. Make-believe is entertainment's offering of "distraction" to all our perspectives. How can I discern the truth in what I perceive?

Conception: an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances.

Self-conception: who you think you are derived from past instances that formed an identity.

What is a "fact"? Is it a statement of action or observance of state? The statement, "The earth is the third rock from the sun" is true for now. So is a "fact" something that is an observed truth at a given moment? Or is "Observed State" a recognition of the fact of determinism?

• Is our interpretation of our unique perspective a reliable foundation to base all our choices and decisions on?
• Do we have a clear understanding of how, what we decide, will propagate forward?
• Do we have it in our capacity to comprehend reality's nature and the influence our free will has on the circumstance made available to others that experience that influence? 

The answer to these questions makes me think, "Oh crap!".

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

One day exists in the "Now" of God's presence. What is "Now"?

It is the dynamic interaction of all that exists. Reality? Incomprehensible!

We see a fraction and can only comprehend an infinitesimal and in our pride we proclaim understanding.

The question is, "Do we understand how lost we are?"

Fecundity?

Each of us live in the now. The Now is where we make our choices. Choices have ramifications.

Choices. The distraction is pride.

Memory and reason are the foundation of an observer's ability to choose. It presupposses a comprehension of tensed facts created by previous choices. The truth condemns and choice proves to be my down fall. Why? I was not designed to rely only on my memory.

Two things make it more complicated. The accuser,  and the tense facts that "I" created. The result is condemnation.

It seems my choice alone is unable to foresee and comprehend the ramification of its effect on the continuum. Thus the destructive result.

Fecundity has its foundation in the Now. As I trust in the Lord and not my own understanding, He directs my path to fruitfulness.

Synchronization is not planned, it is choreographed. A symphony.

The now synchronized, is a symphony created on the fly, by what He is provided with.  Our choices give Him the basis of His arrangement which He takes to reflect His personality and His composition stays true.   A  Symphony of hope meant to set us free from the lies and distraction of the enemy of our souls. Who are you? Listen to the Conductor. Discover your voice that was created to express harmony and dissonance in an ever expanding choreography of creation.

Free will.

Free will has no meaning if we don't understand the consequence of our choices.

Satan is a liar. That is the truth I knew as I began my quest to discover what time was.

Truth is simple once discovered. But the quest for truth is nothing but complicated. The father of lies doesn't want us to know the truth.

The simple truth is found in Christ. He reveals creation as it was intended. Complication is the work of the enemy of our soul.

Our choices create tensed facts that build up or destroy. Distraction is meant to blind us to the truth of our choices. Pride keeps us in the fantasy.

Fantasy and Distraction.

You can't define fantasy correctly without using distraction. Fantasy is fundamental distraction that replaces the truth with a pseudo reality that allows you to ignore the consequence or your choice.

Blame, excuse, doubt, fear, fun and pride distraction will use to keep you occupied as the interaction of mass and energy continues to create the tensed facts of the choices you cannot but make.