In a Rut

 

A few years ago we took a road trip to see the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon. When we got near there on a 2 lane paved road, we found we had to turn off of the nice road and travel on 20+ miles on a narrow gravel road that was a very twisty, hilly, rutty, dusty, and windy road to get there. There were signs posted warning of the need to use caution because of the conditions. The scenery on that “road” was beautiful, but enjoying it was limited because of the need to pay attention to the conditions of the road and other traffic.

In our everyday and spiritual lives we may sometimes find ourselves in a rut don’t we? There is a difference between being in a rut, and having to drive through ruts to see the Grand Canyon. In the former, we let it happen to us. In the latter we choose the ruts.

How do we come to feel as if we are in a rut in our daily and/or spiritual lives? We choose not to find joy in what we are doing, no matter what it is. We allow ourselves to be okay with the sameness of our lives, and that contentment changes to boredom. We fail to find those things that add excitement and energy to our lives, and we become stale inside. We are in a rut. We often fail to see all that is good around us as a result because we feel smothered by the walls of the rut. It also happens with our love for those we are in relationship with.

Being in a rut can bring damage to each aspect of our lives as we begin to feel a bit unworthy or useless because of it. We may often feel helpless. Our zest for life suffers because of the slow progression of the feeling. It’s not something that envelopes us all of a sudden.  Being in a rut is like a cancer that slowly grows within us.

This is somewhat of a negative read isn’t it? It is meant to be that way, because in the next post we’ll read about how to get out of the rut.

Bottom Line Thought: Do you sometimes think that your life, spiritual walk, and/or your relationship is in a rut? Are you losing sight of the beauty and benefit of each?