Growing Weary of the Same Old Thing
Those of you who have followed my writings for any length of time know I'm a lover of schedules and routines. While I don't want to be pressured to the point of accounting for every minute of every day, I do enjoy having a good idea of what activities the day will hold and when those activities will take place. For me, it makes it easier to figure out the how after I know the when.
But I must admit, there are times when a routine gets old and boring! For example, does anyone else get sick and tired of doing laundry and dishes every single day? There are only two of us in this house (well, two of us who wear clothes and use dishes). How can we possibly dirty so much in so little time? I don't get it. How about cleaning the bathrooms? Or driving through the same traffic each day? Or sitting through another football practice? Or walking the dog? Yes, sometimes those lovely, predictable routines become downright tedious!
Ironic, isn't it? When we have no routine, we long for order and schedules, but when we do have them, we long for something different. In short, we're very hard to please! Perhaps that's why the Bible tells us, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:18). Yep, EVERYTHING. The days filled with order and those filled with chaos. The days we look back on with a smile and those we look back on with a sigh. The good, the bad and the ugly. In everything, give thanks.
If I'm busy doing laundry, I can thank the Lord for the many clothes I have to wear. When I'm doing the dishes, I can praise Him for plenty to eat. There is something praiseworthy and special in even the most monotonous of tasks because each one, though alike in many ways, is still somewhat different.
Did you know there are only twelve musical notes? Those twelve notes repeat up and down the scale, ranging from low to high (or high to low, depending on where you begin), but as far as a specific note, there are only twelve. Take a moment and think of how many songs you know. Now think about how different each of those songs are. How is it that only twelve notes can result in such a variety of melodies? It's actually quite simple. While it is true there are only so many notes before they're used again and again, it's how they're laid out and arranged that creates beautiful music.
Now, imagine that the moments of our lives are like those notes. While many of those moments may be spent doing the same thing day after day, it is how those moments are laid out and arranged that determines whether we feel bored or blessed. What do I mean? I'm talking about looking for the song. I'm speaking of starting our day with the attitude that every moment is another chance to glorify God, and being thankful for even the most mundane tasks.
God has given us the notes. It's up to us to create the music.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”