In an earlier post we raised the question of whether God, through the person and Way of Christ, is the focus and center of your life—of your being, thinking and acting. If not, then ask yourself what distractions do you succumb to that prevent you from allowing God to be the centrality of your life, around which all of your other relationships are to be organized? This doesn't mean temporary distractions that may be required to allow your brain time to relax from too much focused attention. Rather, this is when you habitually spend too much time focusing on what may not be important, and will not help you to grow in your relationship with God.
For example, ask yourself how much of your "free" time do you spend writing, reading, and responding to group text messages or to postings on social media sites, or in surfing the web, or watching television, or speaking on your cellphone, or searching through online shopping sites, or in spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about the regrets of the past or being anxious about what lies in the future? These distractions are no doubt tempting. However, ask yourself why have these distractions become habitual, or why have they gained so much importance in your life? Is it because you are bored, or perhaps lonely, or you search for momentary pleasure, or does it give you some illusory sense of control, or a voice crying out hoping others will hear and respond, or perhaps you seek to enhance your self-esteem, self-importance, or self-identity through association with various groups or "celebrities," or you feel powerless to resist some other addictive habit? Does the time you spend with these distractions actually bring you peace from anxiety and create a more fulfilling life, or do they deter you from experiencing the reality of the present moment where God is found?
Compare this time that you spend on these distractions to the time you spend in seeking to grow in your relationship with God, who loves you unconditionally for who you are, who became human like us that we "might have life and have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:10), and through whom we can experience a hope-filled life. Ask yourself how much time do you spend now in solitude praying, reading scripture or other spiritual resources, journaling, meditating, resting with God in silent contemplation, or in some other practice of reflecting on your relationship with your God?
If too many distractions are leading you away from experiencing God's presence in your life, begin with the conscious desire for God to become the center of your life, and for God to help you to grow towards a loving relationship with God. Through surrendering your will to God and being open to God's love and grace, God will provide you with the way to do this through the guidance and power of the indwelling Spirit. Remember, the journey always begins with your next step.