Saturday, January 17, 2009

Blogging Block

I have needed a push to blog recently. For the first time in a long time I literally have nothing to say. Did I just write that? Me, chatty-cathy...nothing. I struggled to make the time to blog during the holidays and I find that when I am out of the habit, it is hard to return to it.

It's more than that though. I find myself slipping quickly into my shell after Christmas - January is a tough month. The anniversary of both parent's death come creeping up on me and I am not always conscious of how it affects me until I look over my shoulder. But I can feel the weight lifting already.

I am also spiritually dry right now. You know how the seasons come and go. I have not been in this place for a while and so it has really knocked the wind out of my sails. I was having coffee with a friend a week or so ago and he too is struggling right now. This is what I have come to. Many Christians live their lives from church meeting to church meeting with very little God time or God moments in between and they seem quite okay with that experience. But when you have struggled for something more and you have experienced walking intimately with the Lord and you know the connection that brings in your life, it is such a hard thing to endure the times that are dry. In my life times like this happen because my focus shifts and how I use my time changes and before long I begin treating God like someone I know, just not someone I want to be with. Being able to articulate this and feeling more normalcy return to my schedule is helping this weight to lift also.

Here's to 2009 and waking up each day asking the question: "What do you want to do with me today, Lord?"

6 comments:

Bill Williams said...

Well, Arlene. I wish you weren't where you are right now, but I really appreciate your candor. If there was some quick fix or magic formula that I could share with you I would. Perhaps one of your readers has something to share with you in this regard. As the years have passed and I've journeyed through times like this I'm come to conclude that they are necessary...like the changing of seasons. Instead of asking how do I get out of this situation, I now ask what I need to learn from the place to which God has led me, or the place to which God has let me wander. After I've spent some quality time on my face before God, things usually begin to clear up.

May God bless you with spiritual wisdom and understanding. May you also experience seasons of renewal and refreshing from the Lord.

In Christ,
-bill

Don and Denise Sullivan said...

I don't know how some Christians can just exist day to day either. I have felt spiritually devoid too for a few months..even though we are going through a big spiritual battle right now. Usually that draws us closer to God but we've both felt as though God has been distant. I was skimming through a book by Max Lucado, "Facing Your Giants" and he says "Focus on your giants, you stumble. Focus on God, your giants tumble." When I started putting my focus totally on God, my perspective changed and I began filling up again spiritually. I think your question at the end of the post is a very good one that will allow us to see God more fully, if we're open to him. Thanks for the post!

jeleasure said...

Hi Arlene,
Remember, I went through this time you are in currently? You prayed for me that God would open my mouth. You know the irony in that, don't you?

I'm not in a dry period now. Life has been too busy for me to concentrate on producing a good study, for a blog entry.

I will be praying for you this go around. I have been inspired by you and I believe this is the gift God wants you to use.

One question for you to answer for yourself; why are you in a spiritual dry period? I know that for me, I was investing my emotions in something I did not know or need in my life.
Jim

Arlene Kasselman said...

This little post has generated several emails from friends who did not want to post their struggles out in cyberspace and from one friend who just finds it easier to email. It has sparked some in person conversations also. I love how God uses community to refine and shape us.

Jim, your question is a good one. I can't help linking the insanity of the holidays to my dry period now because I have not been spending time with God like I usually do.

Frank Bellizzi said...

Hi Arlene.

Sorry to hear January's been a crumby month for you. It's almost over now. I hope you're feeling springier soon.

Royce Ogle said...

May I add my encouragement to you. In keeping with the quote you gave I'll give a little diddy of my own.

"Keep looking upward rather than inward in order to go onward"

His peace,
Royce