Posts Tagged: John Maxwell
“THE ROUTINES THAT FREE US”
“Most of life is routine – dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you’ll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” (Ben Nicholas.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/routine.html.)
“Routines are normal, natural, healthy things. Most of us take a shower and brush our teeth every day. That is a good routine. Spiritual disciplines are routines. That is a good thing. But once routines become routine you need to change your routine.” (Mark Batterson. Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/routine.html.)
I have always craved routine. I’ve also always resisted routine. Why the craving? Why the resisting?
I crave them because I’ve always suspected that the opposite is not spontaneity, but chaos. I still suspect that this is true. I think that Ben Nicholas (in the first quote above) expressed very nicely one of the reasons for routine: It keeps us going. It provides momentum.
Too often, I sit around waiting for momentum and inspiration to hit me. They won’t. Momentum is sustained by action, and inspiration often comes to me (when it shows up at all) in the midst of my routines. And when inspiration and momentum get married, they often produce some really nice children.
Why do I resist routine? Probably, I resist them for several (non)reasons. Laziness comes to mind immediately. Then too, there is the fear that the quote above (from Mark Batterson) encapsulates: I am afraid of my routines becoming routine.
And, of course, that is indeed a possibility. However, a possibility is not the same thing as an inevitability. Routines can be put to one side for a little while. They can be supplemented. I can substitute one good routine for another good routine. Routines don’t have to become routine.
Some of the most creative, spontaneous, fun people I have known have also been people who greatly valued their routine. They had a routine, but the routine did not have them.
I want to conclude these musings with someone else’s musings. The following is from the site http://www.sixfiguresunder.com/powerful-routines/, and nicely sums up both the dangers and opportunities of routines.
“ ‘You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.’ – John C. Maxwell
We all have habits, for better or for worse. I’ve noticed that some of my routines not only make my day smoother and more productive, but also save me time and money. Other routines or habits do just the opposite. Building up and improving the productive routines and rooting out the wasteful routines will improve the flow of life and cash.”
Note well! Improving good routines and grubbing out bad ones doesn’t simply improve cash flow. Such activities improve the flow of life. I can’t add much to that!
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
Recent Comments