Spiritual ADHD

During the debut party of my college friend, a boy around 10 years old took my attention. He was quite playful. He moved anywhere and played anything that catches his attention—he even licked the chocolate fountain displayed in public! In short, his attitude seemed not to fit on his age.

In the midst of the celebration, I asked the debutante, who is a relative of the boy, if he has some kind of mental disability. And I was right! She told me that the kid was diagnosed to have an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) which according to National Institutes of Health, is characterized by difficulty in staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and being hyper. I terribly felt sad deep inside. Some people looked at him with disgust and humiliation, but I’m convinced it was never his fault.

Then another person came into the scene; her mother. She was trying to control the behavior of her child as she cleaned the boy’s clothing and chocolate-smeared face. It must be really hard taking care of a stubborn special child like him. But then I couldn’t see a hint of hardship on her face, instead, an overflowing essence of a mother’s love.

We can relate the mother-and-child scene to our Christian life. Our father in heaven is actually the strongest and most patient parent of all. Know why? Because He’s taking care billions of special children! (You know what I meant).  That is right, we are all ADHD children, Christians or non-Christians. It is our very nature to seek and hold on to things that catches our attention. We dwell on things which makes us feel comfortable and happy without considering the warnings and instructions of our Father. In Jeremiah 7:24 which says “But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward,” the prophet illustrated symptoms of an ADHD child—being stubborn and not paying attention to God. He also mentioned that hard-headed people move backwards; not straining forward and not growing spiritually.

However, just like the said disability, it was never our fault why we were born sinful in nature (We can’t undo what Adam and Eve did on the Garden of Eden, instead pay the price of their downfall). But the love of our Father is overflowing that He still cared for us. Just like the mother, God never ceased in giving us attention and giving us instructions of life. He made the bible for us; He tapped people to direct us in our paths; He used circumstances to change our perspectives—all of these things shows His unending love and care for us. The good news is, ADHD can be cured overtime. You only need a couple of therapies to take! But the cure of spiritual ADHD? It’s in 2 Timothy 3:14-15, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,  and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Keep reading and obeying God’s instructions through the Bible. Another one: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).”

Stop being hyper and attention-seeker! Grow up and be transformed for His glory. And if you have overcame Spiritual ADHD, don’t judge those who under this circumstance. Remember you were once like them, show instead care and affection just as our Father in heaven cares for them. How? Share God’s word and power!