Routine, Rut or Grave?

When we lost our home in July, 2008, due to flooding from Hurricane Dolly, the pattern of our life was turned upside down. We had lived in our south Texas home for almost 12 years, and had just renovated the whole place 2 years before. We had totally remodeled it, putting on a new roof, new windows, gutting the interior, extending the kitchen and office, adding on an enclosed garage and in general making it just what we wanted it to be. We were comfortable and settled.

Following 12 inches of water throughout the house for one week, the new laminate wood flooring and all the walls were ruined. We decided to take this opportunity to move back to Iowa where both of our families are located so that we could be near them again. So we did, just in time for this cold and snowy winter.

Lately, I've been reflecting on the pattern that has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

First, there is newness, chaos, upheaval present which forces me to be "on the edge of my seat" both spiritually and psychologically. At this time I am most open to the Spirit of God, and most willing to move in any new direction that that Spirit seems to be leading. This is always an exciting and very growth-producing period.

Then, as I begin to settle into the new situation and circumstances, I develop a routine to better manage and deal with the ordinary happenings of each day. This routine frees up energies from the mundane tasks for the growth opportunities that life presents. For example, if I don't have to expend energy on finding my clothes, brushing my teeth or locating my files in my office (because all these things are now routine), then I can put my energy into learning the nuances of the new job that I have begun or building new relationships or whatever the day-to-day happenings present. Routines can be very beneficial.

However, the third stage in this progression slowly insinuates itself. After a while, a routine can gradually transform itself into a rut. This rut then wears itself deeper and deeper into the fabric of life until there comes a point at which there is no longer any freedom for the Spirit to move. Herein lies the danger: the only difference between a rut and a grave is that the rut is still open on both ends. In other words, if a rut can be recognized for what it is, escape is possible. When it is not recognized, and continues, it can become a grave and kill the Spirit within.

Fortunately, in my life, God has never let me get to the grave stage before blasting me out of the rut. Sometimes it has taken a hurricane to get my attention. However, I have learned to welcome the chaos and upheaval as preludes to the growth and newness of life which is being offered. As I bring my energies to bear "on the edge of my seat", my sharpened focus leads me into the wonderful freedom, excitement and growth that God is holding out.

This pattern has repeated itself so many times in my life that it has become an old friend with whom I am very comfortable. I no longer get quite as upset or discouraged by the unexpected, the tumultuous or the tragic. They are merely the opportunities for new beginnings.

Where are you in your life at this point: "on the edge of your seat", in a routine, a rut or a grave?

Choose Life

How painful and sad it is to watch the news and see the many families confronting financial disaster because of the loss of jobs, closing down of businesses and general collapsing of the economy, both here and around the world. The reality of having to make hard choices, for example between food or medications, education or transportation, heat or electricity, is putting people in a position that has been unknown in our lifetime.

Could there be a silver lining to this cloud that is effecting so many?

I believe there is. The secret for me lies in the Power to Choose. In my experience, there has never been a situation in which I have had NO choices. If the circumstances were beyond my control, at least my attitude in dealing with those circumstances was within my power. As one of my friends, Gail (whom you will get to meet frequently in these reflections) says: "You can choose to be bitter, or you can choose to be better."

Last evening on the nightly news, a father of a family who had lost his job was being interviewed. He was telling how in his family they were planning to have one night a week without electricity. After lighting candles, they were going to turn off the lights, get out the checkerboard, play games and talk to one another. It was his attitude and belief that his family was going to grow stronger by going through this tough time.

My own life has been guided for many years by two passages from the Bible, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, God says: "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life then, that you and your descendants may live."

John's Gospel 10:10 records Jesus saying: "I came that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Putting these two verses together in my life, I have learned that in every occasion, I am confronted by a choice. When I ask myself: "What is the life-giving choice here, what is the death-dealing choice?" it becomes more evident which direction I need to go, how I need to respond, what my attitude needs to be. That doesn't mean that I've always responded correctly, or made the right choice. But it has helped me to clarify the choices available.

When I apply this framework to our present economic struggles, I see the father mentioned above making some very life-giving decisions for his family. These seem to be decisions that would not have been made if the circumstances had not backed them into this corner. His attitude and his faith are finding the life in the situation, and he is choosing it.

At this time, where in your life are you being given the choice between life and death, blessing and curse?

Why Blog?

Why would anyone want to spend the time and energy to write a blog? Why would anyone want to hang themselves out in the public forum for others to view, judge, criticize and react to? Assuming of course, that anyone would even bother to read them!


The answer for me is multi-layered: 1. There is something self-actualizing about putting my thoughts and reflections down on paper (or spelled out in the computer as the case may be!). By writing things down, they are clarified, become real and take on a life of their own.


2. The creative process often brings forth surprises even for me. (Wow! I didn't know I thought/knew that!?!) Maybe especially for me!


3. After 6-plus decades of living, I find myself wanting/needing to reflect on my experiences and spell them out. The abundance of my life's happenings demands to be mined for the nuggets of wisdom that lie within. (Someone has remarked that the unreflected life is not worth living.)


4. Because what is most personal is also most universal (as My Love frequently reminds me), I am realizing a desire to share these reflections/musings with others. If they strike a chord in someone else's life, I will be doubly grateful.


Therefore, I will be posting from time to time the gleanings of my life's experience in this space. I am not tying myself to a strict schedule, but have set a goal of at least once per week. If it happens more often, so be it.


So whence the name, RondoMusings? Very simply, they are Ron's Random Musings! Nothing too profound there.


Who am I? The short answer is: a 60+ Lover of Life and Believer in Love who was born in the Midwest (Iowa), spent most of his adult years in northwest Iowa, while being tremendously blessed with opportunities to travel and live, if only for short times, in Germany, Tanzania, Malawi, India, Philippines and Bolivia. After 12 years in Deep South Texas (some would call that another foreign country!), culminating in the loss of our home to a hurricane, My Love and I have now returned to northwest Iowa and its beautiful, cold winter. All of this, and more, will be grist for the mill in the ensuing installments.


So hang on, if you so desire, and discover with me where this ride will take us. Any reflections, comments, questions or reactions will be welcomed.