Hello?  I hope I am still writing for you out there and not just to cyber space.  I know it has been a while, but here I am.  The last week and a half has been a strange one; one where my routine has been thrown for a spin.  You don’t realize how much your routine defines you until you are out of it for a while.  I missed my routine.  I felt lost.  I felt like something was missing even though I was on vacation for a while.  I am not a work-a-holic, just a person who likes to know what is expected of me.  And many of those expectations are placed on me by me.  That is why my routine is so important.

Routines are said to be bad when they inhibit creative thought.  Sometimes we can get so caught up in our routines we are not willing to try something new.  When that happens we are said to be in a rut.  Sometimes I find myself in a rut, but a simple comment and encouragement from my wife quickly gets me out.  If you don’t have someone close to encourage you, you need to find someone.  Being in a rut can and does prevent some amazing things from happen.  Being in a rut can prevent miracles from happening (for more on this, see my sermon from July 30.  My sermons link is on the left side bar).

But routines are also good.  They provide structure for people like me.  I like to know what is coming up each day and what needs to be done on a particular day.  Routines remind us what is important.  Maybe your routine is devotions and prayer in the morning.  This is a good thing but when you get out of your routine, maybe this gets missed.  This was the case for me and I know that was a big part of the reason why I felt lost the last week and a half.  I missed my time with God in the morning.  I missed logging on to my blog and writing.  I missed interacting with God and listening to what God has for me.  I was lost.  I missed my routine.

So we have a fine line; a grey area.  Routine or not to routine, that is the question.  For me the answer is to find and stay with a routine without forgetting my peripheral vision.  When we get in a routine we have a tendency focus on that routine and don’t see what else is possible around us.  I need to remember to look around and be willing to change when necessary.  Routines give structure but don’t let them be your only structure.  Be willing to adapt and go with the flow.  I need to be more flexible.  I need to be willing to adapt my routine to whatever situation presents itself.  And then hear the call to change if appropriate.  I need to be more responsive to what comes along in life.  My routine of spending time with God is important.  I can’t let that slip again.  I don’t like feeling lost.  I happen to like God (actually I love God a lot, I just wish I would show it more).  I guess I need a better routine.

Thank you for listening(reading) and for allowing me to get back to my routine.  I will try to do better in the future.  If I don’t, hold me accountable and slap me in the face (figuratively of course).  If you feel yourself getting out of a routine with God find someone who is willing to hold you accountable as well.  Feeling lost is not fun, so lets stay "found" with God.

Blessings to you in your routines.  May they serve to give glory to God and the world around you. Don’t find yourself lost again.  With God you will always have a place.  Praise be to God and Amen. -EDH-