“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.”

We are now down to 8 seconds as the average adult attention span. It is said that that it has dropped 4 seconds since 2000, but no one is really sure about that, but regardless of 12 or 8, our attention spans are short and also challenged by the barrage of messages and communication coming at us.  We have to tell our stories quickly, deliver our ads succinctly and be creative in how we win over the attention of others.  If we are relying on the same old ways, or not trying new forms of media and delivery, then we shouldn’t expect to hold onto anyone’s attention.  And once gone, it’s multiply harder to regain it.

Our short attention span does not apply only to our mental attention, it can apply to our faith attention as well.  While we say we are always fixed on Christ, we drift and our attention goes elsewhere.  We might consider that the commands to have no other false idols was addressing just this problem in our human condition. We have to ask ourselves (challenge ourselves) to what is causing us to lose our attention.  Is it our work?  It is another person? Is it a habit?  Is it that we just forget and we lack discipline?

Reference: Deuteronomy 5:8 (New Living Translation)