Are you looking up or down?

I’m sure you have seen them. All the people walking, staring at their phones. It’s as if life will end if they aren’t glued to the screen. It’s summer and now light in the mornings (and cooler) so I am out walking bright and early. I see plenty of people on my regular route, many of whom don’t see me because they are too busy ‘looking down‘.

As for me, on my morning stroll, my phone is in my pocket and I am busy praying, listening to the birds, looking at the sunrise, and being in the moment. I do spend time looking at my phone each day, but there needs to be some space between what is ‘down here’ and what is ‘up there’.

When we are looking down, we can’t see past what is here on Earth. The arguments with others, the unrest across the globe, the state of the economy. The news is full of what is happening, but it is all focused on the negative events going on. I am not inundated with happy stories in my news feed. I wish I were.

In the town where I grew up, there is a hot air balloon festival and airshow each year around the 4th of July. For 4 days, everyone in town is staring at the sky in wonder and most conversations begin with “Did you see…..”. It’s days of wonder, delight, and marveling at the talented pilots.

Are you staring at the heavens in wonder? Do you contemplate what is beyond this world? What strikes me as interesting in this mix is that people would spend 4 hours staring with great anticipation at the sky, but not take 10 minutes to pause and invite God into the mix.

My question this week is: Where are you looking most of the time? Are you looking up or looking down? Are you willing to make a small change to spend more time paying attention and nurturing your soul or is the physical world keeping you down here?

You have the power to choose. Start small. Don’t look at your phone or listen to a podcast while exercising, commuting, or doing chores. Listen to the silence, invite God into conversation with you. You won’t be disappointed in what happens next.