Ministry of Mothers Sharing at Holy Family Catholic Church at 5125 South Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL 32819 US - Beat Spiritual Boredom And Get Excited

Spiritual boredom, a word many of us is familiar with. It is a bug which constantly creeps into our every day's spiritual lives. How many times have you executed a particular spiritual or religious mission, near completion, only to realize that you could no longer handle the task and it is really gripping your whole self? Spiritual boredom is a phenomenon which affects almost everybody everyday. Happened ever since the days of both the old and new testaments. One particular example in the old testament would be from the book of Jonah. Instead of answering God's call to preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah sailed to Spain. His act does not merely depict disobedience by going against God's instruction, it can also be seen as a sign of spiritual boredom in the case when Jonah was lying asleep in the ship he boarded while other sailors were praying during a heavy storm. Another example of spiritual boredom would be from the new testament, in Luke 22, 39-46. Here, spiritual boredom is seen in the case when Jesus' disciples dozed off and slept while praying together with Him at the mount of Olives. From the two examples above, it can be seen that, no one is exempted from feeling bored spiritually, even the olden days prophets, messengers and disciples of Jesus. How do we know if we are suffering from spiritual boredom? One way to know is to listen to the silent voice within us; that feeling that stirs and urges us to renew our spiritual lives. This voice within may somewhat be similar to that of Jesus' reaction to his disciples and remark when they were sleeping, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray not to be put to the test." Another way to know is through clear warnings and signs which may somewhat be similar to Jonah's case when he had to be thrown into the sea for being held responsible for the great storm by the sailors after casting lots. Once discerned, spiritual boredom can be eliminated by building a real and sincere interest to renew our spiritual lives. Further interest would then be fueled by a burning desire to accomplish one's spiritual goals and missions. However, there are two problems which one may face in the midst of eliminating spiritual boredom and renewing our spiritual lives. One, although a person may have the ability to discern spiritual boredom, build a real and sincere interest and have a deep desire to change, that person may still find it hard to be spiritually charged all the time as time passes by. Two, although some of us may be able to complete the entire cycle - the ability to discern spiritual boredom, building a real and sincere interest, having a deep desire to change and lastly becoming spiritually charged, this may only occur for a short period of time. And if this process requires repetition, we begin to fumble or fret and may not be willing to do it all over again. So how do a person deal with these two problems? The answer is to increase the span of one's interest and desire phases. Why these two phases? Because spiritual boredom strikes these two phases most. Spiritual boredom has its own secret agents. We do not see them but they are around us all the time. The job of these agents are waiting for the right time to strike. Losing interest or desire to do something is a natural phenomenon. Interests or desires change due to circumstances or the environment we live in. One simple and effective way to solve this problem: Seek Jesus' help and ask him to give you the zeal and desire to do his work. To illustrate the above point further, I will use the ladder as an example. The renewal of our spiritual lives can be depicted through the movement up and down the ladder. The higher we climb the ladder, the closer we are to God, our Father and the lower we are, the closer we are to the world. As we climb the ladder higher, there will be a constant force (the secret agents) that pulls us down to the lower rung of the ladder. To be not of the world (and climb up high the ladder) although in this world, one must always take steps to constantly nourish our spiritual lives. To nourish our spiritual lives, we need these three elements: Motivation, Enthusiasm and Excitement. Let's just name these three elements, The Dream Team. Their job is to guard you from Spiritual Boredom and Gang. Motivation leads the team because he has the largest sources and network, in other words, tangible or intangible resources for you to stimulate your spiritual interest. Tangible resources include spiritual books or other useful articles. Reading alone is not sufficient. True results would only be produced through daily practice and application. This calls for intangible resources, ones that we cannot see or touch. Here, we can always ask for God's help to motivate us. He is our Father and He understands us better than any one else. This may sound hard at first, but try calling out to Him. Try calling out Heavenly Father. Again. Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father. God our Father listens and He knows what best for us and motivates us most. You will see amazing results and wonders just by calling His name. Then comes Enthusiasm. It is a feeling of eagerness and zeal in each and every individual. It is already planted in us ever since we were born. Once nourished, Enthusiasm would carry us through all kinds of situations or tasks which we have to handle no matter how dull they may be. If you think that you have long abandoned Enthusiasm and leave it shriveling, it is never to late to start nourishing it again. You can do this by remembering the moment when God first touched you. When He first stirred your heart and caused that Fire in you to burn. Look at a lighthouse. God is our lighthouse. See how tall a lighthouse stands. Forget about the tempest, forget about the darkness. Look at the lighthouse and you will see how the stars agree with it. Are you getting spiritually excited now? By now, you should know what the third element is. It has a very special name, Excitement. Excitement's job is to be your Personal Daily Coach. Excitement knows very well the jobs of both Motivation and Enthusiasm. It surveys the level of your motivation or enthusiasm every day. Its main job is to move you to strong positive emotions which would eventually lead you to enjoy your work. It enjoys working with you and sits next to you every day. It is only you who has the power to ask it when to or not to leave you. It gives you the chance to explore other opportunities which may arise during your spiritual work or mission. For instance, how to even turn heaps of waste paper or unusable pen at the office into something beneficial, or even an invention. Excitement, in other words, gives you the idea on how to turn monotony in your spiritual life into something worthwhile. There you have it, The Dream Team. Why not let the team help you overcome Spiritual Boredom and Gang? Do not be intimidated by Spiritual Boredom and Gang and join The Dream Team! Motivation, Enthusiasm and Excitement are always there to help you lift up your spirits. Now, climb up the ladder!! March 2002 Article By Jeannie Clarissa Cotter Copyright 2005 Jeannie Clarissa Cotter

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