Out with the old ...
Alyssa Huntley
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Religion
Sitting down the write this column this week proved to be quite the challenge. I usually have something in the back of my mind that I can pull out and write about, but this week was different. That's right; I have a serious case of writer's block.
It isn't the usual kind of writer's block either, when you have no idea why you can't think up something and you just sit there staring at a blank word document with nothing but a heading, or worse just your name, on the page. I know what's stopping my creative juices from flowing. I have a nice thick pulp consisting of a European Diplomacy paper, a Shakespeare worksheet, and the excitement of going home next weekend. My mind just doesn't want to think in yet another direction.
So I sat at my computer for a while, wondering when this great beacon of journalistic ideas would choose to shine down on me, when I realized what was bothering me, and how easily the same concept is applied in people's everyday lives.
You see, just like writer's block can be caused by other overwhelming tasks, our path to holiness can also be a little more blocked than we would like. It's much easier to walk on a paved road than through woods, right? But that's hardly ever the case.
We all want to live the happiest lives we can. Regardless as to where your happiness comes from (faith, sports, music, etc.) we need to have a clear path to it. It's important that we all take a moment to look at what is blocking us from God and remove these things from our life. It could be anything from lack of desire to pursue a relationship with Him, to an addiction that controls one's life.
We can all take the time to slowly figure out the changes we need to make, what we can control and what we can't, and how to slowly strain out the pulp that is constantly clogging up our way to holiness.
First, take the time to pray and think about what is in the way. Don't just assume. You may think that if you stop doing your homework it will give you more time to pray and therefore solve your spiritual problem. Nice try, but that's not exactly it.
Next, decide what you can and cannot change. That homework has got to stay, but maybe you could cut back on TV time or the multiple hours spent on facebook (don't be ashamed, we all do it).
In the end, stick to it. It's not like some crash diet that you can give up on once you're over your new year's resolution. You really have to keep working on it as a long-term project. Start up a journal and keep track of yourself as you go. Talk to a friend about it and maybe work on things together, keeping each other accountable for how hard your work toward your goal.
If you take things step by step and don't get discouraged you can make it to a place you want to be. "I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus." [Philippians 3:14]
It isn't the usual kind of writer's block either, when you have no idea why you can't think up something and you just sit there staring at a blank word document with nothing but a heading, or worse just your name, on the page. I know what's stopping my creative juices from flowing. I have a nice thick pulp consisting of a European Diplomacy paper, a Shakespeare worksheet, and the excitement of going home next weekend. My mind just doesn't want to think in yet another direction.
So I sat at my computer for a while, wondering when this great beacon of journalistic ideas would choose to shine down on me, when I realized what was bothering me, and how easily the same concept is applied in people's everyday lives.
You see, just like writer's block can be caused by other overwhelming tasks, our path to holiness can also be a little more blocked than we would like. It's much easier to walk on a paved road than through woods, right? But that's hardly ever the case.
We all want to live the happiest lives we can. Regardless as to where your happiness comes from (faith, sports, music, etc.) we need to have a clear path to it. It's important that we all take a moment to look at what is blocking us from God and remove these things from our life. It could be anything from lack of desire to pursue a relationship with Him, to an addiction that controls one's life.
We can all take the time to slowly figure out the changes we need to make, what we can control and what we can't, and how to slowly strain out the pulp that is constantly clogging up our way to holiness.
First, take the time to pray and think about what is in the way. Don't just assume. You may think that if you stop doing your homework it will give you more time to pray and therefore solve your spiritual problem. Nice try, but that's not exactly it.
Next, decide what you can and cannot change. That homework has got to stay, but maybe you could cut back on TV time or the multiple hours spent on facebook (don't be ashamed, we all do it).
In the end, stick to it. It's not like some crash diet that you can give up on once you're over your new year's resolution. You really have to keep working on it as a long-term project. Start up a journal and keep track of yourself as you go. Talk to a friend about it and maybe work on things together, keeping each other accountable for how hard your work toward your goal.
If you take things step by step and don't get discouraged you can make it to a place you want to be. "I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus." [Philippians 3:14]
Be the first to comment on this story