I was just eating dinner and thinking about why I haven't updated the blog in a while. I was trying to tell myself it was because I haven't been "inspired" by anything in a while.
Then I realized something: I use that excuse all the time! Or at least I use some variation of it all the time. I've been down on myself for the last couple of weeks because I've lacked motivation and initiative in several areas of my life. There's nothing worse, in those moments of lethargy, than feeling uninspired as well. But how do we know when we're inspired? It seems like one of those paradoxes; maybe we have to experience the absence of inspiration (uninispiration) before we can recognize inspiration itself--sort of how you can't recognize light without first experiencing darkness. If that's true, than thank God for uninspiration!
Anyway, I think that's a huge obstacle to me, inasmuch as it relates to the "Git-R-Done" concept. I feel like unless I have something great or profound to say or do, it's better to not say or do anything. Seems like a crappy approach to life, and an even crappier approach to God. I think the true test of faith is how we act when we do feel uninspired. Do we just give up? Or do we keep it up?
What do you do?
Thanks for reading.
Jeff
wanderings, musings, and general commentary on the process of becoming more like Christ
3 comments:
Your honesty is contagious, Jeff, and I'm here to say I can relate ... maybe it's the heat, who knows (in the winter, it's the cold, ha!), ... whatever.
Most of my comments here are going to be Maria commenting/preaching to Maria but I'd like to say you inspired me with your piece about uninspiration! Here it goes:
I want to comment on us humans, how we are such creatures of feeling, are we not???? Joyce always says 'feelings are fickle' ... Joyce Meyer that is. I think Joyce is right!
But on the other side of our fickle feelings, is faith as you mentioned.
I want to quote yet another person, a pastor who often said the phrase 'you just gotta know' whenever he spoke about our great God and Biblical truths; what he meant by this is that there are certain things we just gotta KNOW no matter how we're feeling or how things are looking in our lives - great and wonderful truths like He is the same today, tomorrow and always; and that He will never leave us or forsake us; and that He loves us no matter what; and that His ways are not our ways nor does He operate like we do, and on and on. We 'just gotta know'! We 'just gotta know' He isn't like we humans are. Pastor Rod sometimes jokingly says God is not in a bad mood! This is hilarious to me because it is so often very opposite from me in my human condition. I suppose we can take some comfort in knowing that we're all in this together.
I am glad you shared your uninspiredness and yeah, I agree that these times make us appreciate the times when we are on a roll. I love your line on 'true test of faith'. We, who call ourselves Christians must keep moving forward in faith and truth no matter what's happening with our feelings because that is what faith is.
One last thing, Jeff, I am still kind of stuck on your last entry! I so wanted to comment something amazingly cool on 'why people'!! That was such a great question (I think only Rod tackled it, right?) The question deserved something deep and profound about communion with Him but I couldn't come up with anything ... how lame is that to admit?
Maria
I am reading a book which really goes along with this thought, called The Power to Prevail. (I would recommend it!) Here is an excerpt:
"Climbers prevail because they never lose heart. When pushed, they push back—not with their hand, but with their heart. They refuse to relent, retreat, or resign themselves to the way things are. They don’t lean on their emotions, because they know emotions are fickle and unpredictable. Developing their heart muscle gives them the ability to respond to the changing conditions of of the climb. Sooner than later they acknowledge that things are what they are. If they face a steep mountain in threatening or bleak conditions, they simply acknowledge the reality and climb on.
In contrast, crawlers and coasters live out of their emotions. They see adversity as an unfair hardship. They play the victim. Their fluctuating emotions thrive on innuendo and false perceptions. They feel sure that the mountain is impassable and its conditions are unbearable, not because they have ever visited the mountain, but because they listen to others who stopped climbing a long time ago. Crawlers look for someone to blame for the way things are. Stuart Briscoe noted that “discouragement comes when you try to start with what you wish you had but don’t have. And it intensifies when you insist on trying to be in a position you are not in and probably never will be in.”"
I guess for me I feel the Lord is really speaking to me about faith and taking control of my thoughts and emotions so that I can be a 'climber'.
Rod
Hi Jeff, I always appreciate your honesty and insight written in your blog. I can totally relate with the need to be inspired. This summer I decided to take a couple of weeks for reflection and meditation. Upon the recommendation of Ron and Jeanette Brewster, I purchased a couple of books by Richard Foster--Freedom of Simplicity and Celebration of Discipline--both have been exactly what I needed. Barnes and Noble in IF has a nice sized collection of Christian authors. I now recommend these books to you and your readers.
Keep up the good work, Jeff!
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