A Limerick A Day to Keep You On Your Way February 24 The Lull Of Winter

February 24

The Lull Of Winter

Just when you think February has begun,

But really can’t wait until it’s done.

How did it happen?

Winter is for nappin’.

And now you feel undone.

Winter is almost on its way out.  Well that is what we (maybe just me) tell ourselves as we eagerly await spring.  It seems so hard to live in the moment during the longer winters of New England.  I find myself dreaming of warm weather, longer sunny days and being more productive.  I convinced myself winter could be productive since the pull to be outside isn’t there.  I convinced myself I could wrap myself up in a blanket and just write, write, write.

Well…………

I sleep more.  You might think with the days being shorter on light and going to bed earlier one would feel more rested and naturally be more productive.  NOPE!  It takes more effort for me to stay on task since I literally could stay wrapped in a blanket all winter long.  But that doesn’t make me write more.  I need something else to stimulate me. 

It’s………..

How I think.  My thoughts shape my behavior. Can I think in ways that make me productive? Can I make myself do what I only think about?  What will it take to make the dream really happen even wrapped in my blanket? What thinking needs to shift?

Truth……

The Word of God is truth.  This is found in 2^nd Timothy in the third chapter.

 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

We need to have a firm foundation of truth to build on.  Otherwise we live on shakey ground all our lives.  For me that is necessary since I struggle so often with second guessing most of my decisions.  If I have made the Word of God my truth, my solid foundation, the guiding point of my life then a day when a  particular scripture jumps off the page and whacks me I count it as a privilege that God is talking to me, on purpose.  His voice is as gentle as it is loud.  His correction can be so hurtful that it shakes me from my slumber but if I know God is for me and not against me I must wake up.  Yes God wake me up!

I was reading the book of Proverbs.  Chapter 18.   Certainly a chapter I have read before.  But I was asking Holy Spirit to hear something new, fresh.  He never lets me down when I sincerely ask.  Verse 9 was the loud,, gentle hurtful voice of correction.  Wake up!   It says:  ⁹ He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Oh brother.  I already know I can be slothful and waste great time.  Just knowing something does not often make you change your ways.  Loving someone and knowing you are hurting them sometimes isn’t enough either.  What if you are hurting yourself ?  Can you love yourself enough to change?  Is love all you really need?

Let’s look at that same verse, Proverbs 18:9  in the classic amplfied version. Read that one a few times too.  He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and ^[a]he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.  Loose, slack, brother to him who is a destroyer, endeavors not used to heal yourself is committing suicide.  This  really woke me up.

Endeavors means you are attempting to reach a goal.  My goal is to write a limerick every day for an entire year. The deeper goal of that is not just a book, it is a book to heal my poverty mindset.  Every time I let something get in my way from reaching that goal by becoming loose and slack not only have I become a waster of time I commit my own suicide.  I am the one killing myself.  I am the one making myself poor. I am my own brother’s keeper.   Not winter, not weather, not darkness.  Me!  It’s me!

I am undone….