Living into Focus--Bailey, Goers, Hughson, Lowe, Mathieu

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Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions Shawn Bailey Susan Goers Kimberly Hughson Bridget Lowe Techeline Mathieu EDDC 615 Arthur Boers’ Formatting, editing, and design by Bridget Lowe

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Transcript of Living into Focus--Bailey, Goers, Hughson, Lowe, Mathieu

Page 1: Living into Focus--Bailey, Goers, Hughson, Lowe, Mathieu

Living into Focus:Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions

Shawn Bailey

Susan Goers Kimberly Hughson

Bridget Lowe Techeline Mathieu

EDDC 615

Arthur Boers’

Formatting, editing, and design by Bridget Lowe

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Arthur Boers: Familial and Communal Frameworks

Familial FrameworkBoers’ is a husband and father, therefore he

frames his relationships to his wife and children as prominent in importance by

allowing for plenty of attentive time, application of limits to technology, engaging

family members in relationships, and spending ample time in the space that they

occupy together. He refuses to let technology interfere with his relationships,

using the ALERTS acronym as his guide. (2012, p. 100)Communal Framework

Boers believes in the value of community and invests relationally with strangers. He met many new lifetime friends on his trek across Canada. He agrees with Palmer’s

view of an undivided life and the value of a circle of trust (Palmer, 2004, p.74 ). Boers

was not initially convinced that he needed a bigger kitchen, but once it was finished he

saw the value of the space allowing for more community time with family and

friends. The new space allowed him to build relationships by simply being present with

one another and communing together. (2012, p. 34)

Goers

Boers: Husband, Father, Pastor,

Author, Teacher, Speaker

All of these roles allow him different

frameworks to view the current issues related to

living a focused life.

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Arthur Boers: Familial and Communal Frameworks

Cultural FrameworkBoers believes the American society has difficulty maintaining focus and demands

constant stimulation. Boers does not carry a cell phone. (2012,p. 148) He refuses to be

distracted by technology, yet his wife carries one. He blames the state of America on what Borgmann terms “commodification

and consumerism.” (2006, p. 180) He comes from a conservative cultural framework that resists the advancements in and prevalence

of technology.Ethical Framework

Boers employs a framework of virtue for ethical decisions.

Everything one says and does influences his or her overall ethical premise, which drives the ethical decisions he or she makes. Boers adheres to a virtuous model of considering others and how his decisions affect them. (Center,

2007)

Goers

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Issues for Educators

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A• Attenuated Attention: “[Students] are no longer aware that interacting with others nearby might have different

demands and expectations.” (Boers, 2012, p. 87)• It is commonplace to see a classroom of college students with their laptops open, with many on non-academic tasks.

The problem is that they do not perceive the distraction, and educators do not have the authority to stop it.

L• Eliminating Limits: “Technology often has a certain and particular momentum, and unless we are conscious about it we

risk being swept along.” (Boers, 2012, p. 102)• Educators are bombarded with “helpful” technology that has a tendency to change often and upon which is placed a

very heavy emphasis. It can be very overwhelming. Limits must be set.

E• Eroding Engagement: “The speed, tempo, and pace of life are increasing. […] [W]e are encouraged to be impatient and

hurry.” (Boers, 2012, p. 111)• Teaching is already busy and exhausting. And increased paced and higher demand can be dangerous. Care for the

mind, body, and soul become extremely important rituals to maintain health and happiness as an educator.

R• Remote Relationships: “More and more relationships and conversations go through technology. […] Less and less do we

have opportunity to converse directly, face-to-face.” (Boers, 2010, p. 128)• In a job that is built on relationships, the breakdown of conversation through digital lines has the potential to do a lot

of damage. Take as many opportunities as you can to have in-person contacts.

T• Taxed Time: “Experiencing our homes as workplace extensions affects how we live in them. […] Not only have we

brought work home, we can do it in any room of the house.” (Boers, 2012, p. 150)• Teaching is one of the most intensive “take it home” jobs. There is never enough time, and yet educators haul home

crates of chores and rush to do as much as possible. Time is short, and it will not all get finished anyhow, so take time for yourself instead.

…and a little advice

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Ethical Issues that Bear on the Educator’s Work

“Man’s ability to

live in society derives

from the Creation, as does also the

relation of rulers and

ruled.”

(Bonhoeffer, 1995, p. 328)

“Activities that link

emotions and spirit and brain

and bodies contribute

to happiness.

Truly rewarding experience

s […]

(Boer, 2012, p. 36)

“The state fulfills the assigned

purpose of the human character

within the sphere of the natural and creaturely.”

(Bonhoeffer, 1995, p. 328)

Bailey

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Positive Suggestions How do we begin to get a handle on what ought to concern us? (Boers, 2012, p. 73)

Bird Watching

•a simple way to slow down, pay attention, be receptive, and experience wonder (2012, p. 91)

Praying with Icons

•religious icons aid the faithful in becoming quiet and centered, praying, and paying attention (p. 92)

Screening our Attention:We have options!

Both practices invite us to take action and initiative. They both demand being slow and single-minded. You stay still

for a time. You focus carefully, concentrate, and resist distraction. More importantly, you wait for reality and

revelation to unfold and flower in their own way and at their own pace. (Boers, 2012, p. 93)

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The current pace of life…. SLOW DOWN!

Writing Letters

• a form of communication that involves pauses and slow progress, it is labor-intensive and an invitation to be thoughtful and reflective (Boers, 2012, p. 120)

Family Meals

• turn off the telephone and other gadgets and eat meals together--conversations should take place in disturbance-free zones (Boers, 2012, p. 135)

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Counterbalancing Sundered Space

Walking• What would happen if you resolved to walk regularly to at least

one major commitment in your life: school, work, church, library, shopping? (Boers, 2012, p. 173)

Gardening

• “Because you’re alone out there, you're with nature, you realize what God is doing with these little tiny seeds that you plant.” (Boers, 2012, p. 174)

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Themes in Living into Focus

In “Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions,” Arthur Boers speaks to all of us in a clear, succinct way. He writes convincingly to describe the ways technology has bombarded our everyday lives and diminished things of importance. He challenges us to put our focus on three important aspects: commanding presence, rich connectivity, and orienting power.

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Mathieu

Arthur BoersCommanding presence is simply focusing on those things

in life that command our presence.

Rich connectivity is recognizing what connects us to one another.

Orienting power reminds us what it is that important in life. Each of these require involvement and commitment

in order to maintain these focal practices in our lives.

Focus on the MeaningfulT

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Centering and OrientingT

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Expanding on this idea, Palmer elaborates on the soul wanting truth. He refers to the truth in a circle of trust that "honors both our differences and our connections." (Palmer, 2004, p. 127) He defines truth as “an eternal conversation about things that matter, conducted with passion and discipline.“ (Palmer, 2004, p. 127)

Mathieu

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Arthur Boers

"This deep hunger that we knows goes on in our culture, this spiritual hunger that we see all around us, and this

sense of being overwhelmed and busy are related. They're driving each other." (Living, 2012)

"The direction of our attention [...] forms character." (Boers, 2012, p. 82)

Find Wholeness

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whatever is inside us continually flows

outward to help form, or deform, the world--

and whatever is outside us continually flows inward to help form, or deform, our

lives.

The Möbius strip is like life itself: here, ultimately, there is only one reality.”

(Palmer, 2004, p. 47)

“The mechanics of the Möbius strip

are mysterious, but its message is clear:

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sSeek the Cycle

If distraction is what we take in, then what can we expect to give out?

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References

Boers, A. (2012). Living into focus: Choosing what matters in an age

of distractions. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.

Borgmann, A. (2006). Real American ethics: Taking responsibility for our country. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Center for Ethical Deliberation. (2007). Frameworks. Retrieved from

http://mcb.unco.edu/ced/frameworks/

Living into focus: Coming home 4 [Video]. (2012)

Palmer, P. (2004). A hidden wholeness: The journey toward an

undivided life. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Willard, D. (1994). The Human Body and Spiritual Growth. Retrieved

from http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=34