Have-To Or Want-To?
“The more often we see the things around us — even the beautiful and wonderful things — the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds — even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.” ~Joseph B. Wirthlin
Around this time of Lent, our journey often becomes filled with “have-to” rather than “want-to”. The resolutions that we made at the beginning of Lent and which seemed oh so doable are now dragging us down. We may no longer be doing them out of any desire but more out of a grudging reluctance because they have turned into requirements.
That so often happens when we do things repetitively. There is something to be said for the repetition of actions. They become habits. In order to become habits, however, those actions have to be driven by will and desire.
When we fail to reflect upon our reasons to do whatever it is we have chosen to do for Lent, our resolutions can begin to get in the way because we have lost our focus on the season. I daresay, if we have lost our focus on the season, that also reflects a loss of focus on our faith lives in general.
Is the reason our resolutions become more difficult because we have lost our focus on life and on God? Have we focused so much on the world around us that God has become invisible to us? Have we begun to gloss over our relationships with others? Is that why they sometimes feel burdensome to us? Do we truly care about life or have we come to the point where we are merely going through the motions?
I know that those are difficult questions to answer. However, in the process of answering them for ourselves, we might find the focus that we have lost. Do not let life and love and God become invisible to you. Look at all that He has given you. Look at them afresh and anew each day. Treat them as the gifts they truly are. Instead of waking and saying “Oh God…another day”, wake and say, “Thank you, God, for the gift of another day!”
Do you think God gets tired of looking at us each day? Let us not tire of looking at Him and all that He has given to us!
FAITH ACTION: Take a good look at your life and at those around you. Have you been taking God and others for granted? Appreciate them anew today.