October 25th, 2010
“Do It Again!”
This past weekend, I did a talk, in our “Change Your Game” series, that focused on how we’ve lost the wonder of life. Though we were created to joyfully experience each day in a new and life-expanding way, Psalm 118:24, we’ve lowered each new day to being a simple repeat of all the days before. Solomon describes this sad and profound loss better than I ever could in the book of Ecclesiastes. (Checkout Ecclesiastes 1:5-9; 2:17-23)
I won’t repeat the talk here because you can listen to or watch it online at northridgechurch.com. But, I have to confess…this talk is really messing with me. Think about it…the reason we miss the wonder of each new day God shapes for us is because we’re not allowing Him to reshape us for that new day. We’re going into each new day with all of the old baggage of our many yesterdays. So, rather than experiencing a new day…we keep experiencing the same old day…over and over again.
As an illustration of this, I compared my grandkids sense of wonder in life with mine. Sadly, the difference is profound. When I twittered about this, someone reminded me that G.K. Chesterton had written a little about this in his book “Orthodoxy.” I found it and thought it might inspire you like it does me.
“A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough… It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again,” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again,” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
Of course, the answer, (which I seek to develop with a little more depth in my talk), is for us to faithfully be inviting God to reshape and remake our lives each and everyday. When we do, He makes it possible for us to experience each new day as genuinely new. When we do, we’ll find ourselves once again filled with wonder…constantly saying “do it again.”
I’d love to know if this messes with you as much as it’s been messing with me!
Categorized: Christian Living, Life Change |
jim
thank you bother on the talk sunday
JoAnn Lieding
Yes, it has. We asked the question at CYG group this past Sunday, “How are you singing a new song today? What does it look like, considering God made us all uniquely? Our answers were all different and quite profound, perhaps the most touching moment of our group sharing so far. Thanks for stirring the pot.
bob burnside
The “for we have sinned and grown old” statement by Chesterton really gets me thinking.I wonder if he’s saying,It brings us closer to or in relationship w God after we understand( Romans 12:2)…
cherilans
It certainly does mess with me too! Kids, like you and I’ve witnessed, want to do things over and over again, it seems for the sheer joy of it and also the mastery/understanding of it. They see each time as new because they continue to want to explore it. I like that they’re in awe of the simple things too – they always are amazed with the world around them and remind you of just how wonderful God made it. Being around them makes any adult feel young again.
The quote gave me food for thought. I agree with his surmise that God must have “the eternal appetite of infancy” – He never grows tired or old. He is the same always, now and forever. I love this biblical concept. So, though I grow old, I can rely on Him as my unending source for renewal (reshaping) and re-energizing each day. I call upon Him each morning to help me see His Greatness in all things, even the smallest of things. I may still carry baggage day to day, working on letting go with God’s help, and my days may be the same in general, but I can still look around with wonder and joy at His creation and the ways, big and small, that He decides to let me know that He is here with me. I agree with you, if we allow Him to renew the spirit within, so each day is seen through new eyes, we can experience each and everyday with excitement. Do this again, Brad – love your thought provoking posts!
Betsey B
I’ve always found joy in sunsets. I never tire of their beauty. In fact, just last week I posted a comment on Facebook about the heavenly sunset displayed in Ann Arbor. Not one comment – but mention “diet” or “laundry” and I get all kinds of comments. Sad really.
So although you laugh at the Double-Rainbow Man, I continue to be inspired by God’s creation and His constant reminders to us of His love (although not to the tripped-out extent of Double-Rainbow Man). That is what keeps my days fresh & new.
bob burnside
Betsey,because you “always” and “never tire” of God’s splendor,would you be kind enough to pick a few Bible verses to share, that articulates how you’re able to get where you’re at and with His will,revisit.
Jeff Bond
I have found that as I get older things that I used to love to do are no longer that fun to me. Hockey used to be my passion, playing it, coaching it and watching it. Now it seems there is nothing new or the old saying ” nothing I haven’t seen before”. I feel we have to keep discovering new things to do or we become bored and complacent.