As I sit in front of my laptop watching the traffic outside of Panera Bread, I’m reminded of a road trip we took a few years ago with our two oldest grand-daughters. We took them to Arkansas to visit their great-mama (Tim’s mom). About half-way there, Alison (about four at the time) said in quite an emphatic voice, “I’m boring!”
Tim and I gave each other that quizzical, “what did she just say?” gaze, then busted into a gut-wrenching laugh as the translation to “I’m bored” settled in beneath the lightbulb. From that moment on, we no longer feel bored. Instead, from time to time we tell each other, “I’m boring.”
I don’t know why I’m particularly boring right now. I had a nice walk, it’s a beautiful day, I chatted with a friend, enjoyed a great salad and read some interesting stories. I have several hobbies, I’m learning a new language, and I’m working on some new books.
I sat in front of my computer and pondered, “what now?”
Perhaps I’m just a bit unmotivated rather than bored. However, this feeling did send me on a journey to read Healthline’s “Causes and Treatments for Boredom,” as well as “8 Reasons Why You Are So Easily Bored,” in Psychology Today. (Hmmm, there was a mention of autism. Perhaps I’m on the spectrum 😳.) And I read WebMD’s “Signs of Boredom.”
I also recalled some information about boredom from my marriage and family training. In the Prepare/Enrich assessment, individuals and couples are assessed on a number of factors. Stress is one of them. Stress is a curvilinear factor. What this means is: too little or too much stress can lead to a lack of production or even dysfunction. Too much stress can lead to anxiety, or depression. Boredom occurs when we have too little stress in our lives. We need just the right amount of stress to keep us moving, feel good, and accomplish our goals.
Now that I’m on a roll, it’s time to look at what the Scriptures have to say on the subject. Interestingly enough, the word “boredom” doesn’t appear in the Bible. If you search for it, you will find multitudes of passages where a woman “bore” a child, and where Jesus “bore our sins on the cross.” I would hardly equate these to boredom! Moving on…
Many Proverbs describe boredom in terms of laziness, and slothfulness. You know the sloth, the cutest (always smiling) creature that can barely move because it is sooooooo tired.
Hmmm. Not sure I like that one. I love the sloth and one day I want to see one in person, but I don’t want to be one. He could probably use a bit more stress in his life. I don’t want to be like the sloth unless my stress level gets too high, and then some sloth advice might come in handy. For example, “don’t hurry, be happy,” “hang in there,” “sometimes doing nothing is time well spent,” and “don’t quit; keep climbing.” But when I am boring, it is probably not the best time to sit and contemplate the sloth’s guidance on life.
Other Scriptures tell us what to do to overcome boredom. Paul directs us to serve the Lord with zeal, and not to be lazy in our service. I’ll tuck that one into my hip pocket for sure. I never want to be a sloth when it comes to serving the Lord. Here’s what Paul says in Romans.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Romans 12:11 (ESV)
Be fervent, he says. Merriam Webster defines fervent as 1.very hot, or glowing, like the fervent sun, and 2. exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling, or zealous. When’s the last time you were on fire for Christ?
One way to overcome boredom is to do something different. Bump up the stress level just a little bit. Take on a new challenge. Find another purpose for the moment, the day, or this season of life. Look for something that brings back that zeal. Paul says to be fervent in spirit. I asked myself, “How can I change what I’m doing to very hot? Glowing? What can I do to increase the intensity of feeling, and become zealous in serving the Lord?”
Hence, this blog. I decided to do something productive with the feeling of boredom, rather than turn to social media or some other addictive game I might otherwise choose to play. I am here to serve the Lord by serving you, my readers. I hope you can see a glow, even if it is a very small flicker of a candle. At least now I can honestly say, I’m no longer “boring.”
À la prochaine…see you next time!
Do you ever feel bored? Leave a comment below and let us know what you do to overcome it. Your email address is only used to ensure you are a real person. Or to send you a Christmas card at the end of the year. Well, that is if I take the time to send them out. Well, maybe if I am boring at the time.
