R: From Ruts to Renewal

A rut, they say, is merely a grave with both ends knocked out.

Doesn’t that sound delightful? While the word often refers to vehicle tracks in the mud, it also can mean a fixed, usually boring routine.

Of course, not all routines are ruts. Routines are good things to have in many cases, but they can become stagnant. For creative people, they can be positive or negative (sometimes, both at the same time!) Positive in that, if we sit down to write at regular times, we train our imagination, our muse, to show up. And if we write sporadically, it’s hard to get momentum to complete projects. But routines can become negative when we simply go through the motions and don’t jolt our minds onto new paths. Think about the fun of getting a vehicle out of a deep, muddy rut!

The older I get, the more I like routine in my life, but sometimes that means I’m not very impulsive (aka fun!). I don’t always seek out change. Sometimes it finds me.

After eleven and a half years of working in a small-town flooring shop, my bosses sold the building and are shifting to a home-based installation-only model (partly due to the flagging economy). Last Friday was my last day of work.

Please understand that without this job, I doubt I’d be a published author today. It was due to the many empty hours in the store that I remembered my old dream to write and embarked on the journey. I’m incredibly thankful for the two best boss guys in the world who encouraged me to occupy those hours in whatever way worked for me, so long as I was ready to answer phones and talk to walk-ins. It worked out very well for all of us.

But the routine is now gone. I’ve been jolted out of the rut, and need to find new places and ways and mindsets to work in.

It’s time for renewal!

As Christians, the first verse we often think of in this context is Isaiah 40:31: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Jeremiah 31:25: “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Yes, I’ve been tired. I’m looking forward to regrouping. I have several writing projects lined up for over the winter and also plan to spend more time outside, even in the snow. Time to clear the cobwebs from my brain and refocus. Time to reflect on the goodness of God in my life and see what He has for my future. Time to be still, and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

Are you in a rut? Maybe it’s time for your spirit to be renewed.