By Doug Creamer
A Change in Routine
I went for a walk the other day and noticed that most of my neighbors had taken down their outside Christmas decorations. I also noticed twinkling lights coming from inside a number of homes, evidence that the Christmas tree was still up. Mine is still up and I am still enjoying it. It has been nice to just enjoy it without all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
With the holiday season behind us, people are beginning to think about the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day. While many might be hoping to bypass winter and move right into spring, I am looking forward to some snow. I am also looking forward to spring and a new gardening season, but I am content to look out the window for some snow for now.
I know many people are glad to be getting back to the routines of life. The holiday season brings a welcome break from routine, but after all the travel and craziness many find themselves longing to return to the routines of life. People want their children back on school schedules and bedtime routines. People want to get back to work so they can pay all the bills from the holiday season. People want to get back to their regular routines.
I think this is a good time to break away from the rut of our routines. If we are honest with each other, there are some routines that need to change. The trouble is that it is difficult to change our lives and routines. But after having a break from them during the holiday season, maybe now is a great time to assess and change some routines.
What needs changing? I know that I need to work on not staying up so late at night. I did some reading before bed over the holidays and I liked that. I would like to add that routine. Maybe we need to look at what we have been eating. While the holidays lead all of us down temptation alley, there are probably some things we need to change in our regular eating habits. We probably all need to move our bodies more. Exercise is good for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
I enjoy scrolling through social media, watching videos, especially weather videos, and watching TV. We all need down time, but can we limit that in order to do something else like reading, writing to a friend, or spending more time with our family. Speaking of the family, imagine the positive impact on your family if you chose to spend time together as a family or spending one-on-one time with your children. Pick something the two of you can do to connect.
Simple changes do not mean we have to give up the things we enjoy. It means we might do those things less in order to do something we want to do. That was how I started writing my weekly column. I wanted to write and I decided I could give up TV one night a week in order to write. It’s been over thirty years filled with great rewards.
One area we can all work on is spending more time with God. God wants to be invited into our lives. He wants to know that our relationship with Him is a priority. Some people like to spend time with Him at night, but sometimes He only gets a few minutes before we fall asleep. Others choose to spend time with Him in the morning, but some mornings He is squeezed out because we have a busy day scheduled. God is jealous when we ignore Him. He wants one-on-one time with us AND He wants us to invite Him into our daily routines. We often invite Him when we face a crisis but He wants to be involved in every moment of our lives. He wants to connect with every area of our lives.
I want to encourage you to incorporate a few small changes that will allow you to connect more with God. He wants a closer and more intimate relationship with you. Pray that God will help you become more aware of His presence. Open the doors to connect with God while you are exercising, running errands, taking the kids to their activities, and while doing routine things. God wants to connect with you. He wants to speak through you. He wants to demonstrate His love for others through you. Make more room for Him in the midst of your routines. Welcome a deeper relationship with Him this year.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
