Consistency

BORED. Picture source

Then again, this is one part of me which I slowly came to recognize and accept recently (because if I don't accept it, I wouldn't be able to work on it) ~ I am easily bored. Not in the sense that I have short attention span. Rather, when I work at something, I work my socks off; the perfectionist in me kinda takes the reins and drives the horse... but when it becomes routine, I can't wait to either escape or chuck it aside, take a holiday and then begin something afresh. I'm like the short-distance sprinter. I enjoy the burst of energy that my "sprint" demands, push myself till it burns and just when I feel like I'm dying, I'd thrust myself over the finishing line in one final stride. At my best, I work extremely well with projects and short-term missions... but make it a long-term kind of work, I will inevitably start feeling bored when the things I do get mundane and predictable. I don't like routines. However, I am thankful that God uses my friendships as well as ministry, studies, marriage and even blogging to cultivate in the soil of my being - long-suffering virtues: faithfulness, perseverance, consistency, diligence, patience, love, etc. It is only by His grace that I have come so far. Perhaps, all the pains were worth it... and whatever pains that I'm facing now will be worth it in the time to come. It is indeed important that I learn to be consistent because after all, whether or not I finish well in my walk with God - depends on my consistency in and out of season.

I like what Pst. Mike Groenewald (back in E.N.Dublin) once told me: "Our Christian faith is not a short-distance sprint... but it has got to be a long-distance run." Different technique. Being a long-distance runner, you don't push off at the fire of the starter pistol into a mad dash for the finishing line. You don't pound the ground with forceful, quick steps so that your calves absorb so much impact and your quads work doubly hard to propel you forward - otherwise, you'd run out of gas way too early and risk injuries. A good long-distance runner builds up gradually from a slow start (even when the other runners start by sprinting and it is tempting to follow suit) and maintains a comfortable, consistent pace until it's time to finally speed up towards the end. He is secure enough to take short walking breaks at regular intervals to rest his muscles and sip fluids before running the next segment.

Picture Source

Therefore, my prayer today is this: God, teach me how to fight the good fight... how to finish the race... how to keep the faith. (2 Tim 4:7) Let me faithful and consistent in my walk with you - in the highs and lows of life, in my service of Your purposes...and in the building of Your Kingdom. Help me to set realistic goals for myself, rest when I must and yet excel in every aspect of life. While I'm good at short-term projects, give me the perseverance to run long distances according to Your will and the joy not to complain. In Jesus' name, amen.