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Worn Out? Then Reshape Your Brain! November 12, 2007 By Kent d Curry
In a world that worships busy, depletion is a constant threat. In ministries that require regular, often weekly commitments, depletion is a constant threat. Being reminded that,“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) makes spiritual sense, though it is often difficult to apply in our hectic physical world. Still, it never ceases to amaze me how many dynamic Pentecostals can do everything for God except schedule regular personal time to recharge. After all, if we’re recharged, He has more of us to use. Staying fresh is the priority we talk about, but rarely implement. There are numerous excellent methods for personal growth I could suggest (quiet time, reading, travel, saying “no”), but it’d be wiser to get you to ask yourself one question—“What will reshape my brain?” (I’m using the brain as a physical representation of your entire physical being.) Ask yourself this question and you’ll find the true antidote for depletion. See, there’s nothing better for a human than to be renewed, whether it’s in the spiritual, mental, or physical sense. A refreshed human reevaluates old problems and challenges in new ways. They live the same life they were previously living, but they’re experiencing it in a different, better manner. We all need more of that. The key is to find sources of reshaping that you can access regularly, so that you remain fresh and strong as a friend, student, worker, and Christian. It’s adding bumps and neural pathways so that your being starts firing in fresh ways. I’d suggest seeking the unusual; find several challenging resources (the brain reshapers) that you can access easily, but will push you into areas you don’t naturally experience. For me, it’s lunching with people who don’t reinforce my worldview, visiting resource-rich web sites that force me to resee the world in different terms, reading Scripture in different translations, reading a variety of books (not just the same type) that won’t leave me in the same place I started it in, and tackling that magazine Suduko puzzle just to see how I’ll do. (Answer: There’s a reason this article is full of words instead of numbers.) The point of the question is to shove me into areas that are less-than-comfortable, yet-potentially-helpful so that my brain can’t return to its original (depleted) shape. It’s a sure-fire recipe for continued growth and a more effective Christianity. Though you have to ask the question of yourself to start the process, then honestly pursue where it leads.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2007, Kent d Curry
---------- Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com, a college and career speaker, and now, a part-time literary blogger. |
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