Weekly Thought – December 26, 2023
Fred tolerated laziness and boredom poorly – if at all. When their children were growing up in the late 50s and 60s it was quite fashionable as teenagers to be bored. They soon learned their parents had a quick cure – work. Tasks were readily available for just such groaning and moaning.
Overcoming Boredom
Boredom is the dry rot of the soul. It comes when we feel that what we’re doing isn’t worth the time nor is it interesting, worthwhile, or challenging. Boredom can be the result of living too efficiently and less effectively. When our life becomes a series of habits and routines, then our creative juices are not stirred up enough to avoid boredom.
Oftentimes we hear children say to their parents, “I’m bored.” The best answer for that is a question: “What are you going to do about it?” we need to learn very early the response to boredom is our own responsibility, not that of others. If we stay bored too long we escape into pseudo-sophistication or melancholia, refusing to lift ourselves by our emotional bootstraps out of the quagmire. I would make three suggestions to the bored:
1) Break up the repetition of life. Sometimes the most simple changes will help because they help us use our minds rather than relying on automatic habits. When I was speaking constantly I would find a talk became boring, so I would rearrange the point just to increase my interest and concentration. Routine is needed for efficiency, but life is more than good time management.
2) Add something good to your life. Start a new activity, begin a new hobby, see the old things in new ways, start new friendships, and associations. Do something specific for others each day. Enroll in a course, sign up for a film series, symphony concert, summer theater, athletic event, Bible study – but do something good! Remembering the more bored you are, the less interested you will be when you begin, but the greater your interest the more interesting you will become.
3) Take something bad out of your life… things that need correcting. The sedentary life is a good place to start making a change. “Goofing off” may need redefinition. For example, one of the most interesting men I know has decided not to read the daily newspaper. He recognized so much of it is repetitious and absolutely of no earthly value. Some of us may need to stop an activity which is nothing but activity. Surely you can find something to throw out. We spent one New Year’s Eve in Naples, Italy. During that night we quickly became acquainted with their quaint custom of throwing things out the window that they don’t want to carry into the New Year. The streets became so littered that no vehicles could travel them for hours. It seemed everyone had something to throw out of the window.
The war on boredom can begin the same way – throwing away what isn’t needed. After all, boredom is a sign of poor self-management and that is a waste of talent, gifts, and resources.
This week carefully consider: 1) When do I find myself fighting boredom? 2) How can I help others with the tendency to get stuck? 3) What questions should I be asking myself to assess my vitality?
Words of Wisdom: “Boredom is the dry rot of the soul.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23 NET Bible)