Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Enthusiasm”
Our Bible verse for today: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Remaining enthusiastic will sometimes mean doing nothing.”
If you’re enthusiastic about something that means you’ll be busily involved in activities related to that something, right? Not necessarily. In fact, sometimes exactly the opposite is true.
Lately my own life has felt a lot like the Disneyland attraction “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”. It’s just been a twisting, turning, whirlwind of activity. But most of the activity has been for things that are important to me, much of which I enjoy. Serving in the church, preaching, teaching, leading a mission team to Haiti, writing, and even moving into a new home and selling the old one. (Ok, the moving part isn’t so enjoyable but still, it is important to me.)
So if you’re involved in all sorts of things you enjoy and which are important to you, and if you’re level of enthusiasm is high, then you’re good-to-go, right? Well yes, maybe, for a while. But even Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride only lasts for a short time and then the twisting and turning stops, you get off, and you return to a more balanced and stable state of equilibrium. If you didn’t, the twisting and turning, swirling and whirling, would soon make you sick and you would then no longer be very enthusiastic about the ride.
This morning, as part of my morning devotional time, I began re-reading one of my all time favorite devotional books, “Intimacy with the Almighty” by Pastor Chuck Swindoll. The book makes the case for stopping the ride and regaining your balance by spending extra quality time with God. Deep time. Quiet time. Slow time.
But wait, you don’t have the time to spend extra time, quality time, deep time. The ride is spinning too fast and there doesn’t seem to be a chance to get off. Yup. Been there, done that, got the tee shirt.
But the truth is that you can make it stop. You can get off. Just do it. If you don’t you’ll get sick, or tired, or both. Then you’ll no longer be effective and you certainly won’t be enthusiastic.
I like roller coasters, and whitewater kayaking, and sky diving and yes, even Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Those things are fun and adventurous, and they give me an adrenaline rush. I like it. I look forward to it with eager and enthusiastic anticipation.
So too, a life filled with lots of meaningful and challenging activities can be a good thing. But not endlessly. Sometimes the ride needs to slow down and even stop. Even though your busy schedule is filled with things that matter and which you love – things you’re enthusiastic about – you need interludes of peaceful inactivity, times when it’s just you and God – quiet, slow, renewing and refreshing.
Remaining enthusiastic about life in general, and about important things in particular, will sometimes involve doing nothing for a while – and that’s ok.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 