Freedom and Habit

I was sitting in my car outside a hockey rink early yesterday morning, noticing how many cars were speeding somewhere  at 7 a.m. (to work, I imagine). 

I started thinking that traffic patterns are incredibly predictable.  I used to do traffic on the radio back in the late 80s and early 90s.  We didn't have traffic cams and the station I worked for couldn't afford a plane, so we relied on callers, the police and (frankly) other radio station's traffic reports.  (Hee hee.)  Traffic was so predictable that at 3:30 p.m. we would say "401 westbound slowing now core and collectors through the basketweave to the 400. (The basketweave is that area between Jane and 400). 95% of the time we were right. Didn't even have to look.

It amazed me that the roads are open 24 hours but we mostly want to use them at the same time.  The fact that I won't have traffic to speak of at 3 a.m. is irrelevant.  My habit says I will use it at the same time as every one else.  Our lives are like that.

Chances are most of what you have done today prior to reading this blog post is habitual and repeated.  You got up, ate, showered, brushed your teeth, dressed, headed for work/sending the kids off to school/followed some routine you made up years ago and then went into your day which again, has a lot of routine in it.  You and I have already spent hours of the day we've been given, most without thinking about how or why we spend it this way.

Habits and routine are good, and they can be bad.  Often we say we don't have time for what we want to do because most of our time is spent doing things other than the things we want or need to do. We each get 24 hours in the day. We spend much of it without thinking. 

As I think about my walk with Christ and my life as a whole, how much of my habit and routine are good.  How much is bad?  How much should be changed?  What gives life in my routine?  What stifles it?  What am I wasting without thinking?  What life does God want to add to my life that I don't have room for because I filled my day with other things?

What areas of habit in your life could change so that life could come more deeply and freely?  Think out loud with me, if you will.

Comments

[dan scott]

This was the question of my summer. I realized that what habits I actually had weren't getting me any farther along.

Man, I wish I had an answer.

Thinking about the question is a good start. I know that it made me analyze what I do daily. Asking the question helped me realize that I didn't really have good constructive habits that give me life.

I'm habitually reading through the Bible again. (Though, getting Rob Bell's new book in the mail did make me consider dropping that habit for a few nights to read through the book.)

I've learned some creative habits that help my work: journaling every night has helped me process my day and become a better writer at the same time. This has been very life giving.

I need to create a habit of quiet. I don't take enough time to silence myself throughout the day. I keep going until about 11PM and then quiet myself. This isn't working out; I need to change course.

I also need to up my exercise habit - especially in the Michigan winters where it's dark for most of the day and easy to get lazy.

I also could probably read less RSS feeds... but don't worry, Carey, yours will make the cut.

Good questions!

[Laurie]

The question that stopped me in my tracks (pardon the traffic-related phrase) was what happens in my day to stifle me? Some of it is self-imposed responsibiltu, some of it is other people's expectations of my responsibilities. I know God has great hopes for each of us. He sees potential blessings I may miss if I'm not focused on Him. it reminds me of the song - "Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your heart so I can see..."