One of my favorite songs is “Crazy” by Ben Rector. In it, he sings:
You ever get tired of turning on the radio
And asking yourself, “Who lives that kind of life?”
Cause I don’t.
Ben’s point is sound. We can’t turn on the radio, our phones, or the T.V. without being bombarded by a single point: You only live once, so you better live a CRAZY and AMAZING life.
Doesn’t that sound kind of exhausting?
Don’t get me wrong, I think there are huge, lit up moments in our lives – ones that we will never forget. Where the accomplishment is achieved, the notoriety comes, the project takes off. Where the grand calling God has drawn you to comes to life. These are all good things.
But, our life isn’t supposed to be founded upon such things. Instead, the big moments should be blessings anchored in what most view as undesirable: a boring life.
Jefferson Bethke writes in his new book To Hell With The Hustle (available for preorder here):
“…I’m going to keep chasing boring because that’s the thing that’s actually allowing me to live fully. It feels anchored, slow, not anxious, full of joy, steady, and has a peace about it that I think only comes from the quietness of it.”
Our cultural paradigm had led us to believe that a life of deep meaning and richness is only found in praiseworthy moment after moment. Realistically, that equation sounds like the start of burn out, of anxiety, of exhaustion, and of deep unsatisfaction.
Those moments can only carry the weight of blessing when they are anchored in something much more fulfilling – the way of Jesus. His way was never rushed, never overfilled, never spotlight seeking.
If culture labels living a life where I faithfully follow Jesus, love my family and neighbors, work hard, and follow set rhythms boring, then I want to be boring. I don’t think fulfillment comes in the spotlight – I think it comes in each day spent leading a slow but meaningful life focused on our Creator and fellow image-bearers.
The Instagram worthy moments are great, but I don’t want an Instagram worthy life – I want one spent where I am boring but faithful.
KELVEY OLIVIA VANDER HART 