empty

"As we examine the spiritual disciplines, it is important to remember that some disciplines are contemplative, while others are active. The contemplative disciplines replenish our spirit, renew our mind, and reorient our focus. The contemplative disciplines prepare us to be more effective in the practice of our active disciplines."

-Mark Driscoll

Both contemplative and active disciplines are neccesary for balance and spiritual health.

It amazes me how quickly I forget that my energy, my passion come from my contemplative times.  My time alone with God... Reading, praying, searching, struggling, wrestling, forgiving, watching, being, pushing, begging, resting... These are what renew and refill my life.

My success or effectiveness as a husband, father, friend or teacher is based on what I have to offer, what I can give.  When I am too busy to consider my Creator, or too focused on my accomplishments to read the Scriptures, or too lazy to pursue Him - I get empty very quickly.

• Emptiness is having nothing to give. 

• Emptiness means my wife, children, family, friends and students get just the 'motions'.

• Emptiness leads me to live by a calendar and a clock instead of the relationships that give my life significance.

• Emptiness causes me to become more self-focused and self-absorbed since I am consumed with taking instead of giving.

• Emptiness makes me wonder... does my life has meaning?  do i have any purpose? why is God so very distant?

• Emptiness attempts to justify and rationalize my empty existance.

• Emptiness numbs my soul. 

"I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die discover that I had not lived."

-Henry David Thoreau

Perhaps it is time for all of us to spend a little time "in the woods".

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
-Jesus Christ, John 10:10 (Amplified Bible)

May we experience the abundantly full life that Jesus is offering, the way God always intended for us to live.

courage,

-davey