Routine. What kind of image does this word bring to your mind? Good or bad? It probably depends on which way you view it. The reality is that routine can be both good and bad.
What is the definition of routine? Without consulting a dictionary I would say that routine is doing things the same way. A preferred order that is followed. Words that describe it are: Orderliness. Predictability. Systematic. Sameness. Ritual.
Now, on one hand, routine is good. When we have a routine it means that we have an orderly way of getting things done. For example, most of us have some sort of morning routine. Get up. Take a shower. Get ready. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Read the paper. Hop on-line. Go to work. We do this same routine every work day. The beauty of routine is that it helps us to cover all the bases. Every day we do the same routine which means that we do everything that we need to do. Nothing gets forgotten. Get out of that routine and what happens? Things are forgotten. They don’t get done. Oops.
The reality is that as much as 80% of our lives is routine. In addition to the early-morning routine that we’ve just looked at, we have many other routines in our lives. A routine for showering. A routine for shaving. A routine for putting on our make-up. The Monday through Friday routine. A routine way to drive to and from work everyday. The routines we follow at work. Our evening routines. Certain TV programs we watch. Weekly or monthly activities we are involved in. Our bedtime routines. By and large, we are creatures of habit. And as much as we complain about the routineness of our lives at times, there is something comforting about settling back into our routine after a long vacation or an illness.
On the other hand, we understand that routine also has a downside. Routines can be terribly predictable. Extremely boring. Stale. Same old thing. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. They can stifle. And depress. And suffocate. Since routines become so habitual they don’t require very much thought or emotional energy. Many times we just go through them without even giving them a second thought. It’s like our mind has totally zoned out. Too much routine can take the zest for living right out of our lives. It can leave us hopeless. Uninspired. Discouraged. Depressed.
So, what are we to do? Instead of throwing the baby out with the bath water, we need to find a way to energize some of our routines. Take saying grace before eating. In our family, we say it before every meal. At home. In restaurants. Wherever we are. Unfortunately, I find that sometimes that I say it so routinely that I don’t really think about what it is I am saying! What is the solution to this? To be specific. Thank the Lord specifically for the people who are at the table with us. Or for the food that we are about the eat. The lasagna. The fresh green salad. The hamburger. The chicken wings. (My favorite!) Doing this is a simple way to help energize and vitalize our returning of thanks so that it doesn’t become mindless and meaningless routine.
So, think and pray about other ways that you can bring life to your routines. What can you do differently on your morning commute? Perhaps taking a different route occasionally? Or saying a quick prayer at every red light? Or praying for pedestrians you might see along the way? What can you do differently in your devotions? Read from a different translation occasionally? Pray then read? Read then pray? Do them in a different location from time to time?
The point is that routines are good. They help us get things done that need to get done. They help us to be organized. And efficient with our time. But they can also take the fun, the excitement, the freshness out of life. This is why we have to put some thought into our routines. To be creative. To be purposeful. When we do this we will find that we have the best of both worlds.
Lord, I thank you for the many routines that I have in my life. They help me get things done. Orderly. Efficiently. Yet routines can also stifle and stunt my growth. Especially my relationship with You. Help me to be creative in my routines. Breath excitement, and freshness, and anticipation into them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What is the definition of routine? Without consulting a dictionary I would say that routine is doing things the same way. A preferred order that is followed. Words that describe it are: Orderliness. Predictability. Systematic. Sameness. Ritual.
Now, on one hand, routine is good. When we have a routine it means that we have an orderly way of getting things done. For example, most of us have some sort of morning routine. Get up. Take a shower. Get ready. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Read the paper. Hop on-line. Go to work. We do this same routine every work day. The beauty of routine is that it helps us to cover all the bases. Every day we do the same routine which means that we do everything that we need to do. Nothing gets forgotten. Get out of that routine and what happens? Things are forgotten. They don’t get done. Oops.
The reality is that as much as 80% of our lives is routine. In addition to the early-morning routine that we’ve just looked at, we have many other routines in our lives. A routine for showering. A routine for shaving. A routine for putting on our make-up. The Monday through Friday routine. A routine way to drive to and from work everyday. The routines we follow at work. Our evening routines. Certain TV programs we watch. Weekly or monthly activities we are involved in. Our bedtime routines. By and large, we are creatures of habit. And as much as we complain about the routineness of our lives at times, there is something comforting about settling back into our routine after a long vacation or an illness.
On the other hand, we understand that routine also has a downside. Routines can be terribly predictable. Extremely boring. Stale. Same old thing. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. They can stifle. And depress. And suffocate. Since routines become so habitual they don’t require very much thought or emotional energy. Many times we just go through them without even giving them a second thought. It’s like our mind has totally zoned out. Too much routine can take the zest for living right out of our lives. It can leave us hopeless. Uninspired. Discouraged. Depressed.
So, what are we to do? Instead of throwing the baby out with the bath water, we need to find a way to energize some of our routines. Take saying grace before eating. In our family, we say it before every meal. At home. In restaurants. Wherever we are. Unfortunately, I find that sometimes that I say it so routinely that I don’t really think about what it is I am saying! What is the solution to this? To be specific. Thank the Lord specifically for the people who are at the table with us. Or for the food that we are about the eat. The lasagna. The fresh green salad. The hamburger. The chicken wings. (My favorite!) Doing this is a simple way to help energize and vitalize our returning of thanks so that it doesn’t become mindless and meaningless routine.
So, think and pray about other ways that you can bring life to your routines. What can you do differently on your morning commute? Perhaps taking a different route occasionally? Or saying a quick prayer at every red light? Or praying for pedestrians you might see along the way? What can you do differently in your devotions? Read from a different translation occasionally? Pray then read? Read then pray? Do them in a different location from time to time?
The point is that routines are good. They help us get things done that need to get done. They help us to be organized. And efficient with our time. But they can also take the fun, the excitement, the freshness out of life. This is why we have to put some thought into our routines. To be creative. To be purposeful. When we do this we will find that we have the best of both worlds.
Lord, I thank you for the many routines that I have in my life. They help me get things done. Orderly. Efficiently. Yet routines can also stifle and stunt my growth. Especially my relationship with You. Help me to be creative in my routines. Breath excitement, and freshness, and anticipation into them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment