Brittany and Brendan head back home today. Boo. Decorations will start coming down at my house. The Christmas season is over. And I will be fighting post-seasonal blues.
I love the preparation for the holidays. The baking, the decorating, the music. There is something magical about the anticipation of the celebration. Something to look forward to. Something to work toward. And now that time is over.
I’ve discovered something about myself over the past couple of years. I am terrified of boredom. It’s why I have endless projects and creative endeavors going. What Christmas offers once a year – that something to look forward to, something to work toward – I try to maintain on a daily basis. I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing. It just is.
I wrestle with an almost panicky feeling when I feel boredom pressing in. I have to think of something to occupy my brain and my time. Anything creative that will stimulate excitement and passion and motivation. A longing to burst out of the box of humdrum and “sing a new song”. It’s in my DNA.
So as Christmas passes and the New Year begins I find myself looking to try new things. Things that have meaning beyond beauty or creativity, but go deeper, offering encouragement, love and hope to others. Will it be more writing endeavors? I hope so. Will it be new ministry opportunities? Yes, please. Will it involve meeting new people and meeting their needs? From my lips to Your ears, Jesus. All I know for sure is that God is stirring my natural instincts of seeking out new ventures in a different direction. His stir stick seems to be doing some figure eights instead of just circles in the paint can of my life. What colors will result? I have no idea. But I sense that His stir stick will soon be traded for a brush that will start painting on a new canvas.
Life goes back to “normal” tomorrow. The blues will try to draw me in, threatening me with the fear of boredom. But Jesus has other colors in mind than blues. Bright colors of possibility and potential that will call me to action and discovery. Hues of what could be if only I “trust and obey”.
Color me, Jesus. Pick the colors. Hold the brush. And help me to jump at the chance to throw myself into the next “art project” you have in mind. Boredom doesn’t stand a chance….
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
