Have you ever turned the page of a book and said to yourself: “wait, what did I even just read”? I’ve noticed this happening quite frequently of late, and I have had to force myself to stop, go back, and read it again. It’s tempting though, to plow ahead with the assumption that because it passed in front of your eyes, you have read it. I’ve had this conversation with some of my students lately as well. More that once have we sat down to discuss the book of Acts, or Shakespeare, and blank looks pervade the atmosphere.
We are especially susceptible to distraction in our era, and we have to work harder to hone in and pay attention. Is this a bad thing? I don’t think so. It would be easy to blame the phone, or the computer, but self-discipline is always just that. It’s discipline. And discipline is always hard work, but it’s worth it.
So consider this your bleak-midwinter reminder to slow down, and don’t turn the page if you spaced out! Remember, we model for our children the way they should go. They should retain what they read, and so should we.