Being aware of our tunnel vision in ministry

By Fr Stephan Alexander

General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

Have you ever been so focused on a task, an object, or a goal that you developed ‘tunnel vision’, where you lose your ability to see anything other than the item that occupies your focus?

Sometimes that heightened focus may lead to difficulty in appreciating other objects or realities that exist in addition to the goal or object of our attention.

I was surprised the first time I noticed that about myself. It occurred when I recognised that blue is my favourite colour. I was drawn to anything blue and to anyone wearing that colour. It happened unconsciously. I wasn’t fully aware of it nor was I trying or wanting it to happen.

I recognised the same trait later on in life when I was thinking of buying a car. As soon as I decided on the model and make of car, I began to notice that type of car everywhere. I was so focused on that car that no other car was appealing to me. I was blinded to other vehicles.

Such focus may present a challenge to us and to the ministry of social justice. At times, it can be an extremely positive thing. For instance, it may lead to an increased drive to achieve success and attain our goals.

However, it may also limit our ability to appreciate opportunities that are present to us. Actually, it can severely limit our ability to discern the importance of things. Perhaps the perfect example of this reality is demonstrated in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25–37).

The priest, the Levite and the Samaritan were focused men. Yet they were focused on different things. The former two persons were focused on what they considered important, their spiritual roles and their ability to participate in the liturgical celebrations, that is, in the worship of God.

The obligation to worship God is supremely important. However, Jesus affirms that to have life we must love God and our neighbour (Lk 10:27–28). “There is no commandment greater than these” (Mk 12:31).

Hence, loving our neighbours is fundamental to loving and worshipping God. The Samaritan got it right! He too was focused. However, he was not focused on only one aspect of the commandment.

Despite the importance of his journey and what he was going to do, the Samaritan was still able to recognise the opportunity to love and worship God by tending to the needs of the man who had fallen into the hands of brigands.

The opportunity to love and serve God by loving our neighbours is often presented to us. It’s present when we go to visit the sick. Yet if we are only focused on saying two prayers, carrying Communion and spending ten minutes, we may not experience the fullness of the opportunity.

It’s present when we encounter the poor. However, if we fail to speak with them and share in their experience, we may not recognise the gift that they are and the truth of their needs. Otherwise, our failure to be open, welcoming, and hospitable can also prevent those in need from coming to us for help.

Awareness of our tendency to acutely focus on one aspect of our Christian faith while neglecting other aspects is necessary if we are to grow in our vocation and be effective in the ministry of loving God and neighbour. Pausing to reflect, pray and listen to God is recommended to improve our awareness.

A prayer that may be of help is this classic composed by Thomas Merton. May our awareness that we are unaware and in need of God’s guidance lead us to act in obedience with His will.

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself.

And the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in everything I am doing.

I hope I will never do anything apart from that desire and I know that if I do, this will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone” (Thomas Merton, Thoughts In Solitude).

The CCSJ asks for your support. Please donate:

Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Account #: 290 458 025 501

Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.

or you can contact us at:

admin.ccsj@catholictt.org