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CCEC — The Blessings of Limitation?

January 28th, 2025

There is no shortage of books out there that are focused on, well, focusing. Indeed, it seems we live in a culture of inattention and distraction. There are reasons to be concerned. A day—or days—of endless screen scrolling can negatively impact one’s health: physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. But if we are honest, smartphones and other devices have only amplified what has long been a reality of the human condition: our hearts do not always seek the good. But that said, is a lack of focus or attention necessarily bad?

We invite you to read this recent blog post, “Attention to our Limitation,” from Don Tellinghuisen, professor of psychology at Calvin University, and yes, Mrs. Tellinghuisen’s husband. A cognitive and experimental psychologist, his area of study is attention and distraction. He is currently working on a book that examines these topics from a faith perspective. And he offers us a little encouragement as we struggle to attend to the things we know we should (and turn from those things we know we shouldn’t). It’s actually good—and necessary! —that we have limited attention. Professor Tellinghuisen invites us to consider how we have been created and to think about focus and attention through the lens of Christian discipleship and stewardship. (Spoiler: We aren’t God. We can’t do it all. And that’s a very good thing!)