Pay Attention

'Tis the season when we think of shepherds and Stars, Magi and mangers, Angels and announcements. I have been thinking about all of the above, but especially about Angels and announcements.

My morning commute takes about twenty minutes, give or take. After riding it for about three weeks now I have the route down, know where the bottlenecks are located, the best angles to take during wet weather and dry, and have the green light timing down so the communte moves pretty well most mornings.

But as with all things in life, there is an "X" factor: the Other Driver.

Washington is a hands free state, which means that you are not supposed to text, talk on your cell phone while it is in your hand, check your email, or perform any of the other tasks available through that tiny hand-held device that has more computing power than the Apollo 11 moon rocket. But of course we humans are quick to affirm that laws only apply to other people and it has been my observation that the hands free law is visible more in its disregard than its application. Commuting in the early-morning darkness, when the glow of the the hand held device is more obvious, has only strengthened that view.

Most mornings are not too bad, but today was particularly pernicious. I was cut off twice by boneheads checking messages while changing lanes, once by a guy pulling out in front of me and then slowing down as he dialed a number, and one woman who weaved all over the road as she leaned halfway across the car to dig in her purse for her phone. Luckily none of this provided any real threat to me as I continually adhere to the best piece of motorcycling advice I ever received: Just assume that everyone in a car is out to kill you and ride accordingly.

So I am a pretty attentive driver. Which brings us back to Angels and announcements. One of my favorite movies is "Michael" starring John Travolta. Travolta plays the Archangel Michael, who accompanies a group of hack writers heading back to their corporate office, all the while engaging in various adventures. It is a sort of cosmic journey film.

Two scenes in particular stand out for me; the first is when Travolta announces to the questioning of the angel expert played by Andie MacDowell that he is "not that kind of angel" and the second with MacDowell where he shares remarks on her character with stunning revelation. In a state of shock at his cogent observations, MacDowell says to him "How do you know that?" To which the Michael character responds: "I pay attention."

Therein lay a key to much of life: "I pay attention." How often do we fail to pay attention - while driving, while working, while conversing with friends and loved ones - and thereby cause harm? To pay attention is an act far more complicated than simply hearing the words or observing the scene, for it involves living with others and for others. Paying attention is the process by which we deeply inhale the moment and all of its implications, for us and for others, which can reveal far more than mere words.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." That's paying attention - comprehending the meaning which exists beyond the words.

Regardless of one's faith stance, this is a season to be reminded of the value of paying attention, particularly to issues that transcend our own immediate wishes and desires, like checking messages or attaining the new record for commute time. Pay attention, for this is a season when angels abound ... and not always in the guise in which we expect!