Driving in the dark is a great conduit for conversation. Late and long road trips always lead to honest and sub-shallow conversation. Last night as Steve and I wound our way around the M25 heading back from Togger’s infamous New Years party we began to talk about juggling…
Every Christian I know wants to be disciplined in prayer, bible study, free time to be there for people, keeping their word, honouring there commitments, but it’s a rare bible basher that manages to juggle the lot. At the beginning of last year my prayer life was in a reasonably healthy place (well, there’s always room for improvement but it was definitely the strongest it’s been to date). I was really flowing with my journal but feeling pretty guilty about my appallingly sparse knowledge of the bible.
This January I’m nearly half way through reading the bible in 9 months (and loving it) but I realised last night that my prayer life has deflated back to emergency prayers and short sound bites in my week. As we chewed over all the things we’d like to be good at but currently sucked at I came up with the stupidest but potentially genius piece of advice… Decide what you want to change, do it and when you think you’re going to quit, don’t.
The Dali Lama is quaking in his boots…
But actually it’s exactly what I need to hear. So much of today’s culture is about experience, passion, enjoyment but not faithfulness, commitment or sustainability. One benefit of blogging and journaling is I’ve gotten to know myself a little better. I’m not a plodder, I’m a project girl and I’ve used that as an excuse many a time but last night Steve said something that made me think… Even undisciplined people need discipline.
So, it’s a fresh year, a fresh adventure and a chance to change. I’m going to bed before midnight, getting up at 7.45 (the crack of dawn!), eating three healthy meals, cutting down on snacks, continuing jogging, journaling in bed, carving out quiet time and going to the pub at least once a week. I give myself a month… xc
PS - I don't know how I'm expected to think clearly and make plans to be a better person when my partner in crime is on the other side of the world. Check out her pics to the right and link to her blog in my links list to see how she's doing.