Confession: Sometimes I just go through the “motions.” It seems to be something that is natural in the course of life, but it is something that I hate about life as well. At some point, the daily course of life becomes routine. I just start living each day over and over – it’s the Ground Hog Day affect on some level. Particularly in my personality, I sometimes lean to rules over relationships. The focus on the rules and routine begins to drive my life and my walk with Christ.
- Life: I can tell you right now what I am going to order at any restaurant (ANY ONE – seriously) in Knoxville. I’m never going to do something that the street signs say not to (it drives Kim crazy!). I don’t like to inconvenience people. I like to make decisions based upon consistent, logical information.
- Walk with Christ: My relationship with Him can become about the next day in the Bible reading plan, accomplishing the “tasks” in my walk with Him and quickly lose sight of the wonder of my relationship with Him.
Don’t worry, for me it doesn’t take over for long. I realize it and do something spontaneous like order something different on the menu (even though I normally regret it) at a restaurant.
What do you do when life comes routine?
Are you Vulcan? With all the logic I have to ask.
What do I do when life becomes routine? I change the routine. Mix it up a bit. I wouldn’t go so far as to try something new, but do something that I wouldn’t normally do…
You take a mission trip to South Africa and you visit people in their homes in the greatest poverty you have ever seen first hand, and you try something new each day that you have never done before, you connect with brothers and sisters in Christ who live in those communities, and with those who are partnering with you in those communities.
@Jeff – you know me well
@Ralph – great word. Amazing how serving someone else gives my own life and walk with God more meaning. Awesome challenge!
Onion bagel, toasted with plain cream cheese, large regular coffee. Same breakfast from the last 14 years, same bagel place. The lady behind the counter sees my car pull up in the parking lot and she usually already has my order ready by the time I get to pay for it. Why a routine? – it saves time. A little time saved here and there amounts to quite a bit of time to do other “important things.” To be honest, it is perhaps the sense of accomplishment that makes me so routine. Done, finished, end of project … next! But who’s counting?
I wish I had the spontaneity of our Lord. Guys, we are going through Samaria; Zacchaeus, I am having dinner with you tonight; 5000 people, YOU feed them. Next time routine begins to take root, I will have to ask myself what I am missing that my Lord has for me.
There is an old BMW driving slogan “Happiness is not around the corner – IT IS the corner.” Buckle up, this life is filled with turns
@Julio – so you have the disease too
Great quote!