Force of habit. Momentum. The rut.

Whatever we call it, there’s no denying that our routine, our habits are powerful.

When we’re confronted with a problem in life, nine times out of ten the biggest obstacle to dealing with it isn’t the actual solution. Mostly, we’re pretty good at sorting out what we need to do. We can figure it out.

But we still don’t do it. Because the biggest obstacle to dealing with it isn’t the actual solution.

It’s us. Our routine, our habits.

It can be hard to see this in ourselves. Not because it’s not there. But because we don’t like to admit that we are our own greatest enemy.

Let’s do something that’s a lot easier. Taking a hard look at someone else’s problem. So we can criticize them.

Look at today’s Gospel. Jesus has just delivered two people from demonic possession. You would think that their neighbors and friends would be overjoyed.

You’ve got two dangerous people. So dangerous that nobody could use the road out of town without being attacked by them.

Thanks to Jesus, now they’re okay. And even if you don’t care about them, now everybody’s safe. Nobody has to worry about being attacked anymore.

And their response to Jesus? Please leave.

Why? Because Jesus messed with their routine, their habits.

But what Jesus did was good for them, in so many ways? Right. But it still messed with their normal.

The problem with that? The normal that Jesus disrupted was unhealthy. And then some.

Why? Because their routine, their habits had created a normal that had no place for God. Or that kept God in the Sunday-only box.

That’s the only way you get the kind of mess that they were dealing with.

It’s easy to criticize something that extreme. But the unhappy truth is that each of us has within us the potential to become just as lost in our own routine. Just as separated from God in our habits.

It may not take the horrifying form of separation that we see in today’s Gospel. But you and I are totally capable of letting ourselves drift into a deeply unhealthy – even dangerous – normal.

It’s not something that happens quickly. It’s subtle. The work of years and inches. Unknowing. Unthinking. Until something goes horribly wrong. And you realize how far you’ve fallen. How far away you are from God.

Our only protection? Our only hope? God.

But making that leap back to where we need to be is hard. Even though it’s our only hope, setting everything right all at once is no small thing.

Our reaction to that kind of seismic shift? It’s going to look a lot like the people in today’s Gospel. Please leave.

So instead, let’s do one thing. Something intentional. But something so small, you can’t fail.

Create a micro habit. An intentional place for God. In every day.

Set an alarm on your phone. For the same time every day. When it goes off, say the Lord’s Prayer.

That’s it?

That’s it. That’s all it takes.

Do that for 32 days. And you’ll have a new routine, a new habit. An intentional place for God. In every day.

When you do, it’s going to grow. After the first one, you’ll create another place for God. Then another.

Not because you have to. Not because “it’s good for you.”

But because it feels so good. And you want to.

You’ll keep doing it. And one day, you’ll realize that your routine, your habits support you.

Because they’re filled, and you’re filled, with the God who loves you.

I didn't realize it until recently, but I've always seen love as something requiring sacrifice, selflessness, patience, and generosity- to ask for nothing is to be the best person I can be, small and quiet and never in the way, always happy and helpful, self-sufficient and present when desired.

It's only as an adult, now, that I'm beginning to see the selfishness of wanting nothing.

I cut my friend's hair in my kitchen the other day. They wanted a trim and I had the skills, so I offered, and was genuinely excited when they stopped hesitating over "bothering me" and took me up on it. It was a peaceful afternoon, and we had tea and chatted for an hour or more.

My brother and I shared popcorn at the movies a while ago. When I came time to pay, I pulled my card out like a wild western sheriff and slapped it on the machine before he could fight me for it first. The satisfaction was delightful.

Someone called me crying on the phone the other day. Kept apologizing for disturbing me at work, talking about how they were bothering me on my lunch break. I was telling the truth when I told them that really, I was flattered and honored and relieved, knowing that if they were hurting I would know, that I didn't have to worry in silence. It felt good to hear them slowly come down, and to know that they knew it would be better soon, and to hear them laugh wetly on the other end. We're getting together for a visit next week.

It's hard to need things, if you've trained yourself not to. It's hard to want things, when you don't know how to want anymore. Trusting people is difficult, and so is relying on them, but I don't know where I'd be without the people who rely on me.

I've heard a lot of people say, "Nobody will love you unless you love yourself". I've had a lot of thoughts about it. It's not right, but it's not wrong, either, I think.

"Nobody will love you unless you love yourself"... I've always taken that to mean, "You will not be lovable until you develop a positive view of yourself as a person".

Now, I think it's sort of inside-out.

"Nobody will love you unless you love yourself"... because nobody can show their love to you in a way that you can accept until you treat yourself kindly, and learn what you need, and what you want, and how to ask for it, and then give that vulnerability away.

Love, for me, is someone I ask for a ride to the airport. Whether they end up doing this or not is irrelevant.

Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus), family Ursidae, order Carnivora, Maharashtra, India

The sloth bear feeds mainly on insects and fruit

However, it is extremely defensive when surprised, and attacks humans more than any other bear

To listen to rain hitting the roof while reading a good book and drinking something refreshing.

  – Guest Submission

Christians should not fear that temptation signifies some deep dark complicity with evil, more real than all their good intentions and inspired works of love. God allows us to undergo temptation that we may learn to cling to him while enduring trials and difficulties. The key is how we handle temptation! The saints have much to say about overcoming temptation and not giving way to discouragement. They have stood the test and received the crown of life (Jas 1:12).”

because young women and girls need role models. need someone to aspire to become as they age. 

"password is incorrect"