Wednesday, January 16,
2013
Dear Sisters and
Brothers,
At one time or another
we have said, or at least have heard it said, "I am a creature of habit."
When we take the
habitual route to work instead of heading for the grocery store as we intended,
we may be admitting that we are distracted or absorbed in our own
thoughts.
If we have trouble
acquiring a new way of accomplishing old tasks or find ourselves resisting an
innovation, we say it to admit that we have trouble adjusting to
change.
We frequently speak of
our eating habits, our exercise habits, or our television habits as something we
want to change, since the habits we have accumulated are diminishing our sense
of vitality.
Given our usage of the
word "habit" you might think that habits are bad. While some habits do in fact
decrease our enjoyment of life, habits themselves are not bad. Habits are an
essential element of happiness. We are indeed creatures of habit, precisely
because God created us this way. God created us to accumulate the habits that
draw us close to him and close to one another.
What makes great
batters or golfers great? They have practiced their swing so much that, in the
midst of play, they never have to think about it. It's second nature. Their
swing has become habitual.
God created us to
accumulate the habits of love. That's right. The habits of love. God does not
want us to live a life enslaved to the whims of the moments. Today I may feel a
bit grumpy or on edge. I might be a little distracted or overwhelmed. If my
love for God and for neighbor depended upon how I happen to feel at any moment,
my love would be episodic and unreliable.
By contrast, our loving
behavior arises from long-accumulated habit, we share our love no matter how we
happen to feel about God, our neighbor, or even ourselves that day. Love, after
all, is not merely a particular set of affections or passions. For love of God
we give our lives to him even on the most ordinary days. We love our neighbors
by seeking their good even when they wish we would eat rat poison.
How do we accumulate
the habits of love? Like batters and golfers, we have to practice. Each day we
have to exercise our hearts and minds and bodies to prepare for the big game, in
other words, for ordinary life at home, work, and school. That exercise consists
of having a Rule of Life.
A Rule of Life is a
pattern for living. It includes devotional practices and acts mercy. Our
personal devotions and community worship shape our love for God. Giving our time
to serve the poor, visit the sick, defend the weak, and welcome the stranger
shapes our love of neighbor. A rule of life shapes our spiritual
habits.
The essence of
happiness is love. Yes, we need to be loved to be happy. But we also need to
give love freely to be happy. Giving our love regardless of our external
circumstances is a matter of habit. That is why God has made us creatures of
habit: that we might know his joy and that our joy might be complete. (John
15:11)
In Christ's
Love,
The Rt. Rev. Jacob W.
Owensby, Ph.D.
The Diocese of Western
Louisiana
P. O. Box 2031,
Alexandria, LA 71309
bishopjake@diocesewla.org
http://pelicananglican.blogspot.com
http://sermon.net/bishopjake