Advent (wednes)Day 11: Inattentional Blindness

ADVENT ACTION

1.) Watch the youtube video (below) about “Inattentional Blindness.” Inattentional Blindness is an idea that, if we lack an internal frame of reference for a particular something, it is more than just confusing, our brain actually refuses to even see it.  In other words, if one doesn’t expect to see something or someone, one literally won’t see it even if it’s right in front of one’s face.

2.)  STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!  Think about it: Over half of the people who watched the video were unable to clue in on the person wearing the gorilla suit.  Often we miss the ARRIVAL of the most obvious/important things – the invisible things.  This video reminds us that we often miss the POINT, the PEOPLE, the WAY.  This video serves as a reminder, especially for those of us who are followers of Christ to PAY ATTENTION.  The implications are HUGE = We must learn how to develop what Jesus called, “Eyes to see and Ears to hear.”
What is Jesus up to?  Are you (we) expecting Jesus to arrive in ordinary, everyday Indiana encounters?  Where are you (we) missing Jesus?  Where do you (we) currently have eyes to see?

3.) Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 13:1-52 about having eyes to see and ears to hear.

4.) Pray for an acute awareness to be able to see through the smokescreen for the true REALITY. Let’s pray to move beyond “Inattentional Blindness” toward an ACUTE AWARENESS of Jesus’ arrival (ADVENT) on the scene.

5.)  PRACTICE acute awareness today with your family, a neighbor, or while visiting at a local shopping center.  Notice people’s eyes and faces.  Ask the Spirit to inform your spirit.  Look beyond the familiar into the spiritual realm which is the actual REALITY that Jesus came to inform with the Father’s hope, joy, peace, and love.