The Value of Routine
Yesterday I needed to make a stop at two important places. The first was our public Library and the second was our Chapters Book Store. Wow – were they ever buzzing places. Both places were filled with kids – teens and younger.
In Ontario it is the week that kids are still home from school completing their Christmas break. School begins next Monday – January 8, 2007.
The look on the faces of younger parents as they were with their kids – was that of tired. It has been a long few weeks with the holiday celebrations mixed in as well. The teens were another story – listless & shuffling from book shelf to book shelf . They had nothing to do and were killing time. Just like me. I understand completely.
In early December 2006 I faced the busy schedule of many Christmas celebrations that would have me attending 5 Christmas concerts, eating 7 turkey dinners and then shuffling from place to place for the Christmas parties and family dues that were planned. It was one very busy month. Suddenly it all crashed to a halt with the arrival of the day after Boxing Day – the 27th. I had virtually nothing to do. Yikes what a feeling! No routine to hold me steady and focused. No schedule nibbling at my days and nights. Is this like a retirement or something? Not sure I like it…
From the families and teens to myself I saw again the tremendous need for routine and rhythm in life. Without it I am lost or listless. Change it and we feel deep loss that is not easily explained. Tip over the routine and we can even get sick. Routine is valuable to my well being. Have you discovered that for your life yet?
But jumping back into the “grind” is not that easy. As much as I miss routine I have a hard time moving from the inertia that settled in so quickly.
In my reading this morning and article told of one man’s schedule that begins at 3:30 AM. He is up early and prepared for his personal trainer who comes at 4:00 AM every morning and works with him for 85 minutes. At 6:00 AM he begins his commute to his work place and then it is all work until Noon. After Noon time arrives it is a quick lunch, and then more work until dinner at 6:30 PM. From 7 – 10 PM it is research for the next day and finally he completes his day with more reading. He is in bed at 11 PM.
This is my kind of man. I clip one hour off the starting time and then roar/glide through a day.
Now break this routine and I am uneasy. This week is the re-establishing of routine again. It feels so good.
I have been following the different leaders of the Bible with their routines.
Adam walked with God every day in the garden – then lost that routine when he had a little extra food at a buffet with Eve.
Moses stuck to his routine with God each day walking from the camp(city) to meet with God in the Tent Tabernacle – then continued to lead as nation until his very end. The account is so powerful that he remained strong with great eyesight until the very end at 120 years old – climbing a mountain before he died.
Daniel rose each morning and prayed long(and perhaps loud) – while a captive in a foreign land and terribly mistreated. This helped him gain a great position with a King.
Add to that the accounts of Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and the list goes on – these were men with routines that we steady and strong – with each one including God in there routine.
Then there was Jesus – the model of routine mixed with a powerful ministry. Even though surrounded by a million needs of people he stuck to the plan that God had for him. That plan was to do his Father’s business. His routine of rising early to meet with God was not broken.
Each was a success and powerfully used of God to provide for his people.
Have you noticed the word inside of ‘routine’? I see the word ‘route’ it comes from old French, and the Latin word ‘rupta’ before that indicating a path or a road – a way to go along. On the road there is safety.
Definition of Routine includes…
A Comical setting…
I looked over the brochure of the Cruise Ship that was lying in the kiosk at the Mall. There were beautiful photos of sun and sea – of sand and palm trees. All of scenes were stillness in the brochure. Such serenity – such beauty. My mind was whisked to a place of soft breezes and gentle people – far from my routine. Oh how I would love to get on board a leisurely cruise through the quiet waters of the Caribbean islands. The reverie that I experienced was for that Mall Moment.
That evening on the television there was an add for the same Cruise Ship and the up beat music, the throbbing action described was punctuated by the statement, “Between the rock wall climbing, the daily shopping experience from Island to Island and the entertainment each night after the four course meal… this is way more than a Cruise…”(or something to that effect..). Poof – there went my Mall Moment… no reverie on that ship…. “Routined people” would be kept so busy that they would likely not get out of bed the next day… but the program director would be knocking on their door to see if they wanted to join the horse back riding around the deck at 11:00 AM.
Why in the name of all things “FUN” would anyone pay for a gruelling, action packed adventure that would keep them so busy that they couldn’t remember what they did for the 10 days away?!?
The Routine offered was amazing. But the organizers of the Cruise Ship program know one valuable thing – people without routine will die of boredom.
Oddly enough I get “high” again as I stumble back into my daily routine this week. Routine is good for me. My wife is the Queen of Routine. Nice ring to that I thought! Living with her is a delight – just don’t get in the way or routine or mess her routine up… ouch!
Routine leads to rhythm in life… which is the start of happiness for me.
How are you doing this New Year?
6:38 AM Signing off for now...I am off for a walk… see you tomorrow.
~ Pastor Murray ~
In Ontario it is the week that kids are still home from school completing their Christmas break. School begins next Monday – January 8, 2007.
The look on the faces of younger parents as they were with their kids – was that of tired. It has been a long few weeks with the holiday celebrations mixed in as well. The teens were another story – listless & shuffling from book shelf to book shelf . They had nothing to do and were killing time. Just like me. I understand completely.
In early December 2006 I faced the busy schedule of many Christmas celebrations that would have me attending 5 Christmas concerts, eating 7 turkey dinners and then shuffling from place to place for the Christmas parties and family dues that were planned. It was one very busy month. Suddenly it all crashed to a halt with the arrival of the day after Boxing Day – the 27th. I had virtually nothing to do. Yikes what a feeling! No routine to hold me steady and focused. No schedule nibbling at my days and nights. Is this like a retirement or something? Not sure I like it…
From the families and teens to myself I saw again the tremendous need for routine and rhythm in life. Without it I am lost or listless. Change it and we feel deep loss that is not easily explained. Tip over the routine and we can even get sick. Routine is valuable to my well being. Have you discovered that for your life yet?
But jumping back into the “grind” is not that easy. As much as I miss routine I have a hard time moving from the inertia that settled in so quickly.
In my reading this morning and article told of one man’s schedule that begins at 3:30 AM. He is up early and prepared for his personal trainer who comes at 4:00 AM every morning and works with him for 85 minutes. At 6:00 AM he begins his commute to his work place and then it is all work until Noon. After Noon time arrives it is a quick lunch, and then more work until dinner at 6:30 PM. From 7 – 10 PM it is research for the next day and finally he completes his day with more reading. He is in bed at 11 PM.
This is my kind of man. I clip one hour off the starting time and then roar/glide through a day.
Now break this routine and I am uneasy. This week is the re-establishing of routine again. It feels so good.
I have been following the different leaders of the Bible with their routines.
Adam walked with God every day in the garden – then lost that routine when he had a little extra food at a buffet with Eve.
Moses stuck to his routine with God each day walking from the camp(city) to meet with God in the Tent Tabernacle – then continued to lead as nation until his very end. The account is so powerful that he remained strong with great eyesight until the very end at 120 years old – climbing a mountain before he died.
Daniel rose each morning and prayed long(and perhaps loud) – while a captive in a foreign land and terribly mistreated. This helped him gain a great position with a King.
Add to that the accounts of Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and the list goes on – these were men with routines that we steady and strong – with each one including God in there routine.
Then there was Jesus – the model of routine mixed with a powerful ministry. Even though surrounded by a million needs of people he stuck to the plan that God had for him. That plan was to do his Father’s business. His routine of rising early to meet with God was not broken.
Each was a success and powerfully used of God to provide for his people.
Have you noticed the word inside of ‘routine’? I see the word ‘route’ it comes from old French, and the Latin word ‘rupta’ before that indicating a path or a road – a way to go along. On the road there is safety.
Definition of Routine includes…
- A prescribed, detailed course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.
- A set of customary and often mechanically performed procedures or activities.
A Comical setting…
I looked over the brochure of the Cruise Ship that was lying in the kiosk at the Mall. There were beautiful photos of sun and sea – of sand and palm trees. All of scenes were stillness in the brochure. Such serenity – such beauty. My mind was whisked to a place of soft breezes and gentle people – far from my routine. Oh how I would love to get on board a leisurely cruise through the quiet waters of the Caribbean islands. The reverie that I experienced was for that Mall Moment.
That evening on the television there was an add for the same Cruise Ship and the up beat music, the throbbing action described was punctuated by the statement, “Between the rock wall climbing, the daily shopping experience from Island to Island and the entertainment each night after the four course meal… this is way more than a Cruise…”(or something to that effect..). Poof – there went my Mall Moment… no reverie on that ship…. “Routined people” would be kept so busy that they would likely not get out of bed the next day… but the program director would be knocking on their door to see if they wanted to join the horse back riding around the deck at 11:00 AM.
Why in the name of all things “FUN” would anyone pay for a gruelling, action packed adventure that would keep them so busy that they couldn’t remember what they did for the 10 days away?!?
The Routine offered was amazing. But the organizers of the Cruise Ship program know one valuable thing – people without routine will die of boredom.
Oddly enough I get “high” again as I stumble back into my daily routine this week. Routine is good for me. My wife is the Queen of Routine. Nice ring to that I thought! Living with her is a delight – just don’t get in the way or routine or mess her routine up… ouch!
Routine leads to rhythm in life… which is the start of happiness for me.
How are you doing this New Year?
6:38 AM Signing off for now...I am off for a walk… see you tomorrow.
~ Pastor Murray ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
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