I have to admit that the excitement surrounding my chain has dwindled in the past week. The week started off strong, and ended strong, but waned in the middle. The chain has been on my wrist for two weeks now, and is becoming part of me. It is no longer a “hindrance,” but I know that I need something to keep the flame burning. I have plenty of hindrances that continue to hold me back. The biggest is when I fall into a sense of complacency and think that I have everything under control.
Using the “sports” analogy, I need to introduce some change into my workouts. I need to do some cross-training. My daily routine, which includes quiet prayer time in the morning, is becoming too routine, like my bracelet. I find myself praying “safely.” Sound familiar? I am not opening up completely, which again points back to my complacency. The spiritual disciplines that have been introduced in the weekly messages are a great ways to stoke the fire, to realize that you do not have things under control, that you do need God to live a fulfilling life. I am committing right here and now to the 12 week (once a week) fasting challenge. I have never fasted before and look forward to the challenge.
So back to my week. As I said, it started off great! I had my first work encounter with my bracelet. A coworker asked about it, and without hesitation, I discussed its meaning. At least now, one more person knows about my faith – another seed has been planted...
My week ended on a Friday night movie night (in the comforts of our living room) with my wife followed by a dinner out on Saturday (the first “date night” since our baby was born in Feb 2008). We watched Fireproof, which I highly recommend. The biggest learning to me was that we need to not only do the right things but do them for the right reasons. Love is not an act (or a series or acts), but rather an act or a series of acts done for someone solely for the benefit of that person. The following day and spilling over to dinner, my wife and I talked about our key take-aways from the movie and how we can use them in our relationship.
A good start and a great finish. Now the cross training begins to keep the fire stoked!
So... how was your week?
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Eric,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting and sharing your experience(s). For me, I had to get rid of the chain early due to my weekly basketball playing, but am extremely uncomfortable praying in public. I think that it is exceptionally uncomfortable for me because of my missionary upbringing. The few times my large family (a family with 4 kids is huge in Germany) went out, we were stared at. When we prayed before eating, it made us an even bigger stare target. For a people person, like myself, those memories and feelings of embarrassment have stuck with me.
While I know that my salvation is not dependent upon me praying in public, I often force myself to do this so that I can demonstrate my faith and put myself in an uncomfortable position. It's an effort every single time. Oddly, it strengthens my faith when I do this even though it's probably not a big deal for other people, it's a big deal for me.
In the same way, of course the chain is not fundamental to your salvation or walk with good. Yet, creating that feeling of uncomfortable-ness can reaffirm why we are here. Great observation about it becoming more ornamental as time goes by. Perhaps you should wear it around your neck to draw more attention upon yourself! Just kidding, of course.
Your blog has me asking how I can demonstrate my faith in new ways to keep me 'in spiritual shape'.
I am finding that it is easy to get chained to the to-do list. I need to step back and find solitude to strengthen my link to God and not be pulled and torn from side to side by the many good things, missing out on the best things
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