Attentiveness

Animal ears sure can hear

Getting into nature

Observe an animal stalking its prey, and note the signs that it is focused and attentive.

Discussion point: When we are inattentive, we can miss out on important things.

Observe a cat or another animal stalking its prey. Point out its perked ears. Also notice the animal’s eyes: they will be very focused on the object it is stalking. Perked ears and focused eyes are signs of attentiveness. Explain that, just as the cat must be attentive to gain its dinner, we must be attentive in order to learn things.

Read Proverbs 2:1-6 and Ezekiel 40:4. Identify the senses that the Bible suggests we use to gain wisdom. Then ask the following questions.

Questions for discussion
  • Would coyotes/cats/wolves (list a predator) find a meal if they did not use their eyes and their ears?
  • What might you miss out on in life if you are not attentive?
  • What animal would you like to pretend to be? (Later, when a child is not listening, call them by their animal name as well as their given name to gently remind them of their intention. You might, for example, say something like: “Mike coyote, are you paying attention with your eyes and your ears?”)
Relevant Scripture

Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Ezekiel 40:4 “The man said to me, ‘Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.’ ”