Deja-Review: the sensation that: "I have heard this all before . . . taught it in fact, and yet here we go again."
I had that odd sensation this past Monday sitting in the dentist's office. The dentist was explaining the best way to start a new habit (i.e. regular flossing). I am an irregular flosser. I do it cheerfully, when I remember to do so.
So the dentist gave me some good advice:
Find a regular quiet time in your schedule, do it every day at the same time, create a place where all your stuff is ready to go.
I use that same outline to tell my guitar students, and in my personal devotion classes, and about how to develop a prayer time. And I struggle with them all.
And hence I am hearing the lesson again.
I think the problem is that I for one complicate my life way too much. I have no "regular" schedule. Every day is different, every year is different, with an infinite degree of variety.
I spend several weeks this past month working on my roof, a project I hope to not need to repeat at this house in my time here. -Very irregular.
I went to camp this past month as a speaker- first time at this camp in that capacity- very irregular
I have just started the in-processing challenge for a new job- very irregular
I finished seminary and am trying to start a church plant- very irregular
And thus it may be that that kind of advice which we so eagerly preach about our favorite topics, be it dentistry, musical proficiency or Spiritual exercises may not be a helpful refrain. Perhaps it boils down to knowing what we love in the midst of irregular lives filled with upheaval. And that we do the things we must as they come our way, because we love to do what is right.
In the end neither my dentist, nor God are going to kick me out because I am an irregular person in a less than monotonous life. They will continue to gently remind me that I need to take care of some simple things every day if possible, and they will help me clean up the mess, and deal with the pain when I loose sight of the small things that really matter, or when despite a good effort, life in a fallen world takes it's toll.
