HOLD THE PHONE.
Did I seriously just complain to myself about the fact that I have to flick my blinker off after I switch lanes? Because THAT is pathetic. My own laziness just blew my mind.
Words that my pastor spoke on Sunday resurfaced in my mind. He was elaborating on a point about "training on the little things." As an example, he then started to talk about his workout regimen that he start a few months ago. "It's amazing," he said, "What people will do to get out of a little work. They'll drive around in a parking lot for five extra minutes versus just parking and walking from a parking space that might be near the end of the lot! They'll wait ten minutes for an elevator instead of just taking the dang stairs!" A few moments later, he brought up another profound point: our fore-fathers didn't have to exercise... because they lived!
His words got me thinking (I know- scary stuff.) These days, how much trouble do people go through to "make things easier" on themselves? And at that point, are they really making it easier at all? What would it look like if people sucked it up and stopped taking the easy way out? Would more people pack lunches instead of eating fast food? Would more people take the stairs? Would less people smoke cigarettes? Would graduation percentages rise?
The possibilities don't stop there. This laziness goes beyond physical short cuts. What about your spiritual life? How many times do we, as Christians, slack when it comes to spiritual advancement? Personally, the times I slack far outweigh the times I suck it up. Do I usually just read the verses on the screen or do I actually break out my actual Bible (gasp. I don't just mean the app.) and physically spend some time in God's tangible word? In the morning, do I usually hit the snooze button once or twice, or do I actually get up and spend a few minutes in God's word to kick start my day? And beyond that, what would it look like if I was joyful about bettering myself in these ways?
I'm obviously not guiltless on the subject. No one is. But the identification of the guilt is as good a place as any to begin a spiritual workout routine. So come on- flick the blinker off, start training on the small things, and find the joy in the mission you've been given.
Words that my pastor spoke on Sunday resurfaced in my mind. He was elaborating on a point about "training on the little things." As an example, he then started to talk about his workout regimen that he start a few months ago. "It's amazing," he said, "What people will do to get out of a little work. They'll drive around in a parking lot for five extra minutes versus just parking and walking from a parking space that might be near the end of the lot! They'll wait ten minutes for an elevator instead of just taking the dang stairs!" A few moments later, he brought up another profound point: our fore-fathers didn't have to exercise... because they lived!
His words got me thinking (I know- scary stuff.) These days, how much trouble do people go through to "make things easier" on themselves? And at that point, are they really making it easier at all? What would it look like if people sucked it up and stopped taking the easy way out? Would more people pack lunches instead of eating fast food? Would more people take the stairs? Would less people smoke cigarettes? Would graduation percentages rise?
The possibilities don't stop there. This laziness goes beyond physical short cuts. What about your spiritual life? How many times do we, as Christians, slack when it comes to spiritual advancement? Personally, the times I slack far outweigh the times I suck it up. Do I usually just read the verses on the screen or do I actually break out my actual Bible (gasp. I don't just mean the app.) and physically spend some time in God's tangible word? In the morning, do I usually hit the snooze button once or twice, or do I actually get up and spend a few minutes in God's word to kick start my day? And beyond that, what would it look like if I was joyful about bettering myself in these ways?
I'm obviously not guiltless on the subject. No one is. But the identification of the guilt is as good a place as any to begin a spiritual workout routine. So come on- flick the blinker off, start training on the small things, and find the joy in the mission you've been given.
"Dear brothers and sister, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
James 1: 2-4
