Christian Living

Thankful for a Boring Life

by Andrew Tuttle
06/12/20
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I lead a relatively boring life.

I get up every morning, shake off the cobwebs with a cup of coffee. Get ready for work. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Watch TV. Go to bed.

Repeat.

Yep despite my restlessness of wanting to do more, it’s pretty much the same thing Monday through Friday. Weekends typically prove similar except the go to work thing. Unless it’s work around the house. Overall, it all feels, well, so futile.

Sometimes I look forward to the evening in, but mostly I just want to go out. Do something. Even if it’s to the store. Grocery store. Department store. Any store. Something, however so small, that shows I’m living life. Existing.

A friend of mine said, “Read Ecclesiastes.” I did. Solomon apparently got bored too. Yes, life can be boring. We’re made for more. And I know I want more. I want to play but Coach doesn’t see me as a starter.

Often I feel restless but when exciting, fun plans get made and the date of said fun approaches, it turns into a hassle. I’d rather just stay home. Believe me, I know what you’re thinking. What is it that I want? When the drudgery gets interrupted, I long for drudgery!

I was listening to a sermon recently and the pastor relayed a story about a new member of the church. She moved from another state to Oregon as a way to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter. It was also her intention to move closer to family as a way to encourage and bring her granddaughter to church.

During a “new member tour” of the church she ran into what turned out to be the only other person she knew in the state outside her family. They quickly connected and before the pastor continued his story, I thought, “Yes, that’s what I want!”

Don’t we all want to see God moving mountains in our lives? Setting the course. A little bit of divine intervention here, a little bit there, just to let us know, or at least remind us, He’s got our back and getting things done in our lives.

Only once in my life has an encounter happened so random the only answer I can come up with is God. But it’s been almost 20 years.  At the time I was less than a year removed from my high school/college job and my career outlook was bleak to say the least. I was commuting 70 miles one way, rising at 4:30 a.m., making minimum wage in a field I hoped to get into but quickly realizing I wasn’t going anywhere, ever.

Back then, I used to imagine this dark curtain over my future because I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to get there. Prayers went unanswered. The bottom line, I did not know what I wanted to do with my life. I already got a late start to graduating college because of a change in course and I felt the pressure weighing down.

What am I going to do with my life?

So one day I was out walking an elderly friend’s dog when I ran into a client from that high school job. I’m not so sure she fully recognized me but in a moment bit out of my character I greeted her and asked how she was doing. We exchanged pleasantries, I told her my situation and before I knew it I got a job at a newspaper and thus started my writing career.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have that kind of God moment, oh I don’t know, every year or so?

Oh yeah, right after I exclaimed to myself and God “Yes, that’s what I want!” The pastor continued his sermon.

Within weeks of that new church member’s encounter running into the only person she knew outside her family, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a short time to live. God had different plans. That friend she ran into at church? She’s bringing the granddaughter to church.

The wheels screeched to a halt in my head. I’m pretty sure that’s not the starting position I want on the team. In fact, I know it’s not.

I think I’ll be thankful for my boring life.