Boredom, distraction and emotional eating.

When was the last time I was bored? Do I lead a boring life?

“Boring” is such a powerful criticism. We fear our lessons being labelled ‘boring’, or worse that we ourselves are seen as somehow boring.

But I wonder if I do get bored, perhaps bored too easily. I look at my little boy (who admittedly is only 21 weeks old) and I see a personality emerging, a personality that is fundamentally curious interested, but seemingly quickly bored. He needs to be on the go all the time. We have friends whose now very bright toddler, has always been quickly bored. Or was it a more easily distracted disposition?

I wonder whether this is a distraction thing (as opposed to boredom), because I think I have this problem.

Firstly, I think I am so worried about what people think, that I actively encourage a hectic lifestyle. This lifestyle means we couldn’t possibly be labelled boring, but at what cost?

But then secondly, I very quickly start new projects, but don’t finish them. Is it that I get bored of the many ideas, or that a newer/fresher idea pops up that piques my interest more?

This may seem a bit nit-picky, but I can’t help worrying that this is all realted to my weight battles and eating habits. I wonder whether I eat from boredom? Or maybe as a distraction? Or maybe it's about something deeper? Emotions.

Where do I derive my emotional pleasure? Where do my endorphin releases come from? I eat because I say "I'm hungry", when I know in truth I’m not hungry.

There are two real reasons: the feeling (it is a pleasure) and from boredom (it’s something to do)
But this is a scary idea. Am I bored at home? Have I forgotten how to enjoy the company of my wife – chatting to her about anything and everything, or am I bored of the same old conversations? Am I so paralysed by fear of boring-ness that I resist doing things that might eventually lead to balance and comfort and a settled lifestyle for fear that people will see this 'growing up' as getting boring?

Or am simply stressed?

Or maybe I’m wired to be distracted and bored easily?

I posit this idea because I do think I’m a certain type of person who needs to constantly look to new projects. I have taken, on many occasions, a typology test, the results of which can be researched further.

In personality terms I am an ENFP (Extroverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving – the opposites being Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging) There are two sites that explain more of what this person is like: http://keirsey.com/4temps/champion.asp, and http://typelogic.com/enfp.html

It’s interesting to note how they suggest that Idealists (the broad category of four types I sit in) need to have alone time to recuperate when stressed. I’ve always battled with Jen (my wife) on this one.

This is a fascinating area for me...one that holds lots more questions than answers.

For certain, I need to review my life patterns and start to complete projects I start.

I also need to stop making excuses and get walking...

Truth cast to the ground

Daniel's visions/prophecies smack of a man who's eaten too much cheese before bed-time. They are peculiar and strangely at odds with the otherwise more straightforward nature of the Bible.

However, it seems important to accept the text as it is, and in that regard Daniel 8:12 seems clear: "Because of wickedness, the host was given over to it together with the regular burnt offering; it cast truth to the ground, and kept prospering in what it did".

The 'it' in the verse is one of Daniel's famous horns, who for the sake of brevity, can be accepted as a world leader, or movement.

In short, the host (the public, or some Christians) is given over to the horn, as a result of wickedness. This is a strange but compelling instance of God's word warning against falling away, or following after earthly leaders. In the context of Daniel 1-6, it suddenly makes perfect sense. We are to worship God alone, which is why the verse's reference to the 'regular burnt offering' also implies not only a going over of the people, but a ceasing of religious observance.

In an era which regards public worship with increased scepticism, we are to be bold in both our discipleship of Jesus, and the worship of him.

Yet, the burnt offering is more than worship - it is part of the ceremonial activity that meant Israel might be forgiven. Is there a worrying trend in society that seeks to remove the forgiveness of sins from God's remit to that of money, fame, wealth, or the Government. Perhaps when we follow the world, and its leaders, we also accept their view on sin - that we haven't actually committed any crimes. That we are not accountable to the maker and sustainer of the world?

Either way, the eventual outcome when we follow the world, and its leaders, is that scary place where truth appears to have been set aside. We need only think of X-factor, WMDs, the war in Iraq, cash for questions, political grandstanding in Oldham, etc, etc... When we really set ourselves to follow the world, we also commit to being shaped by its values. All too often that requires us to set aside the truth.

But yet...

But yet.

"It keeps prospering in all it does" (Dan 8:12)

We must hear God's word. Despite the ease with which people show allegiance to public figures, the pace with which religious observance is marginalised, and the shame of truths covered up, the world WILL prosper. And that is the greatest test - we do not measure things by results, or apparent results, but by God's word.

Do we today seek to follow Jesus, or the world?

Are we seeking to worship Him this day, thanking him for the gift of salvation?

And do we actively seek to cover up the truth - not only in the public sphere, but to our church brothers and sisters, to our work colleagues, to our family, to our spouse, perhaps to ourselves?