What We Contemplate, We Become

In this episode of Formation Digs, I’m sharing a personal story from the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage—a moment that revealed more than just a stumble on the trail. It exposed a deeper spiritual issue: I had become—we’ve become people—someone who walked while reading, led while distracted, and lived without truly seeing. I now call this Gazing-Deficit Disorder—not a medical condition, but a spiritual one. We live in a world that has rewired our attention. The result? We’re skimming life instead of gazing at the Presence of God. This reflection invites us to pause, look up, and recover the ancient practice of spiritual attentiveness. Key Themes: * The danger of leading while distracted * How the digital world reshapes our interior life * The contemplative tradition’s reminder: What we contemplate, we become * Why recovering the practice of gazing at God is vital—for pastors, leaders, and anyone longing for deeper formation Reflection Question: What’s right in front of you right now that you’ve been too distracted to notice? The face of someone you love?The ache of your own soul?The gentle whisper of God? 💬 Stay Connected If this episode stirred something in you, consider subscribing to The Compass on Substack. Each week, I’ll provide spiritual formation tools, reflections, and guided practices to help us slow down and live more deeply with God. 👉 Subscribe here 🎧 Share the Journey Know someone who’s living while distracted?Send them this episode as an invitation to slow down and look up. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe