Friday, August 19, 2011

A "Boring" Life

"I'm bored!" Kids these days, that's all they say! I'm glad I don't hear it much too often from my teenager. Looking back to my own teenage years, I don't ever remember being bored. Maybe my memory doesn't serve me right anymore but I honestly don't remember boredom. Although I don't remember parties nor "hang-outs" during my younger years either but still I had a pretty busy life as a teenager. Probably because I grew up in a busy household with six children all growing up almost at the same time? Everyone has to go to school so everyone has to wake up at the same time, use the bathroom (or fight for it, is more like it), dress up and have breakfast, prepare some lunch then get a ride to school, all at the same time. Can you imagine how it was in the mornings? Just one word --lively.

School, homeworks, projects, younger siblings to take care of, helping out in the kitchen and cleaning up the house --these are only few of what kept me to not even consider boredom. Nothing kills boredom fast than a roomful of kids trying to "survive" until the next day when we had to do it all over again. It might seem to you reading this that it was so terrible in our household. On the contrary, it was fun! Maybe stressful at times but so much fun! Tiring, yes, but that's what helped me go to bed and sleep soundly through the night. I feel a little sorry for my son now that he will not get to experience the "happy chaos" of having siblings around. Although I guess, whatever he never experienced he will not miss nor long for.

We also didn't have computers nor video games at that time. I later remembered during my freshman year in high school that we had the newest Game&Watch handheld game, but in my memory, no one was fighting to play it. It was just there, lying around in the house. Yes, we had television and radio, but those were the main source of entertainment for the adults. As for the kids, it was mainly the outdoors --street games, tree-climbing, bikes and scooters, roller skates, dancing in the rain, digging up worms and snails, ruffling birds' nests and stealing some of the tiny eggs, and throwing mud at each other. These, my friends, were what made life exciting for kids of my generation, at least in my world. Not a single minute was wasted indoors sitting behind an electronic devise (well, primarily because as I've mentioned, we didn't have any). 

Boredom. Such a dark word and an even much darker thing to experience. It might not be too serious by itself but it can also be a symptom of something deeper happening within a person. As I got older, I started to have glimpses of this "dark monster," and it's not very pretty. I don't know what brought it on but I started to feel listless about some things. I become restless quite easily after just 5 minutes of sitting down and doing nothing. Maybe it's because I wasn't used to being relaxed for long stretches of time? I was trained to be on my toes all the time since I was a kid. I'm the eldest among my siblings and I had to help out a lot in the house. As I think about it, I really didn't get to "relax" or enjoy even my after-college-days because I got married young. At 23, I already had my son. I guess, busy was my motto in life. Until my son is now grown up, and I've already settled down pretty well in my job, all my "extra-curricular" activities are on schedule and are in place, and my life in general is quite manageable. Then boredom started to creep in.

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." -Psalm 1:1-3
God knows that we become victims of boredom and restlessness so easily. He knows us too well that's why He keeps on telling us from the Scriptures to be at peace with Him no matter what our situation is. He wants us to be like trees planted by the river whose roots go so deep that no amount of currents, winds nor storms can uproot us. Have you seen those kinds of trees along bodies of water? They grow so big and so lush that if they were people, they'd look like they are the most content, happy, healthy, and sturdy people we will ever meet. And these are the kinds of trees that produce fruits that are so big, plump, juicy and oh-so sweet. I hope I can be like one of those trees, planted firmly by the Living Waters itself, basking in the "Son," and producing fruits in the Spirit that will glorify God in all His majesty forever.

Maybe, by the world's standards, my life now may seem boring since I don't do a lot of "fun" stuff. I am what you might call a "party pooper" since I don't drink any alcoholic beverages, I don't smoke, I don't party, as some people will define "partying," and I make an effort to stay away from stuff that I know are not pleasing to my God. This may seem a blow-in-the-head kind of boring and in some ways it may even be viewed as a righteous-than-thou kind of lifestyle, but really, it is not. To love the King and the Creator is never boring. And it has never been my intention to rub anything in anybody's face especially so since my only focus is to glorify God with what I do and I don't even do these things for my own self. I do it all for the One who matters the most. My life may seem boring for the world to see as I try to conduct myself according to God's standards but there's one thing I'm completely sure of --I'll be having the greatest time of my eternal life even after everything in this world has passed away.

10 comments:

  1. Very well said, my friend. Your wisdom as a person and as a Christian shines through in this post. On being a busy person: I met you when we were younger and I witnessed how good you were at multitasking (and you still are). Continue inspiring people.

    Anay daw, kay ano nga mayda ka challenging ngan dislike? Haha. An iba nga blogspot, waray sugad nga choices.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, my friend. You know how I try very hard indeed. =)

    Na-shock ka ano nga mayada "dislike?" lol! Bangin I'm banging a rock unto my head for doing this & opening a can of worms? But oh well, I really wanna know what people truly thinks about my blog so.....
    (And maybe you're asking on how I did it? Pwede iton ig-edit ha settings kun ano nga reaction tim gusto ig-add. Try it.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Doing the very thing that God asks of us is the most fulfilling thing. If we are on the right track with Him, there is no room for boredom. Maybe boredom is a way for us to seek His will and when we find it, ride the waves, sister because I'm sure we're in for an exciting life ahead. The world's standards on an exciting life is different with one who sees beyond what the world could offer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, Brewed Coffee. Very well said.
    And thanks for your posts on your blogs as well. Keep on sharing! I like your "pseudonym" by the way...goes well with two of your blogs, books and food! I'm a coffee drinker myself. God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mara, I hadn't had a chance to read this post yet, but after reading it, my post today looks like I borrowed from you. Funny how God brings similar things to our minds sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Whoa...really? That's so uncanny! I'm not even sure if I should use that word coz I know God may work in mysterious ways but there's nothing beyond His knowledge or that escapes His purpose. I also find some of my posts similar in topic & thought to some of yours. We serve the same "Boss" so I'm not surprised that we're of "like minds!" God bless.
    I'm going to read your post now. Thanks for the comment! =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was just talking about this with friends the other day. We remember how our kids got up early summer mornings, packed their lunches, grabbed their fishing poles, and headed off on their bikes for a day of fishing. And when they weren't fishing, they were playing baseball at the park or hiking the trails behind our church. I honestly don't remember their ever saying they were bored. And did I mention our getting up at 5 in the morning on school days to feed and water the horses before leaving for school and work? I don't think we had time to be bored! I love your blog and I'll be back!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sandy, I love your comment. Are the days of tree-climbing, fishing and just simply basking in the noonday sun already "out of fashion" for kids these days? I feel bad for them. They may not share my sentiments though but oh well... I wish I were a kid again & enjoy those endless summer days of fun, fun, fun.
    And thanks for sharing your own blog. I'm so inspired by your work! Keep in touch.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 'Maybe, by the world's standards, my life now may seem boring since I don't do a lot of "fun" stuff. I am what you might call a "party pooper" since I don't drink any alcoholic beverages, I don't smoke, I don't party, as some people will define "partying," and I make an effort to stay away from stuff that I know are not pleasing to my God.' Walking with God is never boring, and it does bear all kinds of wonderful fruit! When I was younger, I did drink too much, and I indulged here and there, now and then; but you know, I was never really satisfied with it. True satisfaction goes beyond indulgence and having what a person may think is the best of times; the best of times can pass, but God never does. He is always there, in the best and the worst of times; we only need to be prepared to call on Him.

    Serving God may just involve us giving up certain unhealthy things, but what He supplies in their place are truly fulfilling, that which lasts and has meaning and value.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for being honest, Tim. I don't mean to judge on other people's way of life. When I write for blogs & articles, I try to focus more on my own life because that's more than a handful already! ha-ha! And again, you're right...best of times will pass & I'm thankful that my own best of time is still to come. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...