Have you ever had your mind wander during a sermon?  I have, and I suspect that it’s happened to you.  Sometimes its because the sermon isn’t the most stimulating, but most of the time it’s due to our limited attention spans.  My claim is that this isn’t all bad.

There’s even an instance mentioned in the Bible.  Paul was preaching to a group in an upstairs room.  Since he was leaving the next day, he continued speaking into the evening, and at midnight a young man named Eutychus fell asleep, and then he had a bigger fall – out the window.  They rushed down and found him stunned, but still alive.  After the interruption, Paul continued speaking until dawn.  Maybe this is why the wonderful hymn “There Is a Balm in Gilead” talks about preaching like Peter, but praying like Paul.  Poor Eutychus.  Can you imagine having your name passed down through 2,000 years of history because you fell out the window during one of Paul’s sermons?

Here’s why it’s not all bad.  Could there be a better place to have a mind wander than in church?  When it happens to me, I find myself thinking about all kinds of things, even lunch, but somehow being in church helps channel my wandering mind to meditation and contemplation.  Even when not overtly religious, this is good, for most us have busy lives that prevent such calm and quiet moments.  Sometimes I find myself thinking more about some point of the sermon and fail to pay attention to what comes after.  I think most preachers would call that a success.  I often think of friends and relatives who are suffering and wanting relief for them.  It doesn’t always happen, but there are times that I find myself thinking about my relationship with God and wanting His help in living my life.  I think these last two are called prayer.

Please read Acts 20:7-12 (this scripture never appears in the Sunday Lectionary readings) and remember:  God loves YOU unconditionally.

Jim