Am I Doing This Right?

And so it begins.  As a church we’re committing to cultivate life with Jesus, carving out a rhythm for prayer and reading the Bible, engaging the spiritual disciplines as a means of tapping into the rich source of life only found in the One who gives life.

Like most of you I filled out the card, checked the boxes, signed my name.  That felt good, because, well, let’s face it, on some level we all know we need something like this in our lives.  I believe most Christians live with a sense that God has more for us, but we’re not quite sure how or seemingly unable to receive that more.  That’s why this kind of commitment is helpful.  It moves me from my subcutaneous sense of need, a longing that resides somewhere under the surface, and places me in a posture to receive something I’ve been craving for so long.  It feels good.

So when I get into the office, before checking my email, before posting a witty remark on Facebook--but not before my morning coffee, that would be awful--I open my Bible.  I’ve decided to read through Luke--seems as good a place to start as any.  It’s been three days now, and let me tell all about what’s been happening...

Nothing. A bit of a let down, right?  We’ll perhaps nothing is an overstatement, because I have felt good about giving God room in my life.  I’ve also been reminded each morning that God is with me in a way that I can’t quite explain.  But for the most part not much has happened.  No major epiphanies, it hasn’t made me smarter, there have been no miracles, no transcendent moments.  

Am I doing this right?  Sometimes when I read over the first line I have to read it four times, because I honestly can’t remember what I just read.  Have I suddenly forgotten how to read?  Other times I’m reading and I start thinking about that witty remark that I need to post on Facebook--it’s a really good one.  Distractions come easily.  Does this sound familiar?

It takes time to cultivate life, it takes practice.  The kind of life we seek to cultivate with Jesus, like the spring flowers, is sown through the changing seasons of a year, not in 15 minutes.  

If you’re starting your journey and nothing is happening, be patient, be faithful.  Life is growing deep beneath the surface, even though you may not see it, even though you may not feel it.  The bloom will come, and it will be beautiful. 

Keith