January- Allow yourself to be bored

January is such a wonderful month to reflect, look forward, clean out, and rearrange your schedule by adding or subtracting things in your life that do or do not bring you life and joy.

Scientists in brain science are measuring brain waves during times of boredom.  Did you know that boredom leads to more creativity?  If there is space in your life to not think about immediate tasks at hand, and to rest, it has more of a chance to think creatively.

Never before have we been multitasking 24 hours a day.  The phone and constant connectivity does not allow our brains to rest.  We were not wired to be "on" 24 hours a day.  Our brains need down time, not just during sleep.  Our brains need rest during wakefulness to process and think about all of the information that comes before it through our eyes when we continue to connect with our phones.
Boredom allows the brain space and rest.  So next time you find yourself stuck in traffic, stuck in line or just home with nothing to do, don't fill the time with mindless searching the internet.  Allow the boredom to set in and think.  Your brain is resting and about to be creative!

The Blessing of Boredom
December 20, 2018
Following the angel’s instructions, the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem to find the newborn baby lying in a manger. Wondering why these strangers had come to see her child, the shepherds told Mary about the angels’ announcement. Luke says, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
Mary reveals a quality that is essential to a life with God. She not only obeyed God’s calling with courage, but she also pondered his faithfulness. I’m sure she reflected often on the events surrounding Jesus’ birth in the difficult days that came after—the escape from Herod’s wrath to Egypt, the rejection of her son in Nazareth, and his eventual arrest and execution. 
Many are losing the simple ability to ponder as our lives become filled with the noise of instant digital access to everything, everywhere. The space and discipline to be still, alone, and reflective is an inescapable prerequisite of life with God. Put simply, a spiritual life requires boredom. We must make the mental space to recall God’s faithfulness to us in days past if we are to find the faith and courage to follow him in the days still ahead. That means slowing down long enough to identify his blessings and recall his goodness. 
Like Mary, our life with God should include regular times of pondering and treasuring. Use your time now to recall his faithfulness to you in the past, or treasure an undeserved blessing he has given you. How do these memories change your perspective on the challenges that await you today? by Skye Jethani

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