Wednesday, September 10, 2008

zzzzzzZombie

Have you ever seen a zombie? Well, if not, all you have to do is ride on a long car trip with me. You’ll see one then. One minute I’ll be talking to the driver, the next I’m almost completely unresponsive. It usually doesn’t take too long for Mrs. Zombie to become Mrs. Zzzzzzzzz-ombie. (remember this when I’m the passenger, NOT the driver. Lol)

It makes me sad to think about how many stimulating conversations and interesting landmarks I have missed while in this lifeless state. Being the analyzer that I am, I’ve given some thought to what makes me so sleepy on the highway. I believe it is this: the view of continuous motion and road noise combined with me physically sitting still.

The odd fact, though, is that if the car makes a sudden jolt of any kind—slowing down, jerking to the right or left—it’s as if someone poured a bucket of ice over my head. My heart will pound, and I’m attentive once again to my surroundings.

I’ve noticed the same tendency in my spiritual life. When life is ‘normal,’ and the journey is at a steady pace, I often ‘glaze over’ in my interest to the Lord. I don’t notice the signs and signals He sends my way, I miss the scenery He puts along my path, and I miss out on valuable conversation time with Him.

It only takes a jolt, however—that trial, that problem to solve, that crisis, that word of strife to wake me up and send me to my knees with my heart throbbing out of my chest. All of my spiritual senses are recessitated, and I begin thriving with Him once again.

Doesn’t this happen to all of us sometimes on our faith journeys? Why do we become spiritual zombies—responding only to the pangs of life when they come? Let me suggest to you that, along with other reasons, a good majority of it has to do with the view of continuous motion and noise combined with our spiritually sitting still.

Continuous motion:
Driving to and fro, Shopping here and there, Attending this and that, Volunteering anywhere or everywhere, Serving him or her…all of it has to be done, right?

Continuous noise:
Background music loud and soft, Internet clips funny and moving, Energetic kiddos sassing and singing, TV programs flipping and landing…it’s our present reality.

Of course there’s a time to be still and be silent, but that is a whole other subject. Depending on what season of life you’re in, the degree of motion and noise will vary, but it will be there, none the same.

The problem is when we have all of this around us, then leave Jesus on the shelf of our hearts at the same time.

Even for those of us who read our Bibles, pray, attend church or do ministry--even for us, we can grow robotic about it.

Jesus wants us to take Him everywhere we go. Into each relationship we have. Into our cars. The mall. Our workplace and our churches. He wants us to hear His voice over the sound of music. The entertainment. His still small voice can whisper, and His powerful Word can shout if we don’t make Him the background noise.

So what’s the bottom line? Galatians 5:25—“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
In other words, don’t become spiritual zombies.

I like the way The Message translation puts it as well: “Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives."

Yes, Jesus Christ can be Number One in all the slices of our lives, if we choose to submit, serve and savor Him with each and every step. And instead of people getting to see a zombie for the first time, maybe—hopefully—they will see Jesus instead.



In the Key of HE,

12 friends shared a comment:

Debra Kaye said...

Laura Lee,

As always, I walk away from this a much more enriched person. Thank you for sharing this!

God bless you!

Shane said...

Well said zombie girl! I totally agree and am fighting the spiritual zombie-ness!

Joanne Sher said...

Very rich in meaning and extremely perceptive. I can definitely relate (in both the physical AND spiritual LOL). Praying that I can release my "spiritual zombie." :)

Yvonne Blake said...

yes...I think too many of us don't really notice the things around us. God has to snap his fingers to get our attention. Thank you for wrting this.
Vonnie

Dee Yoder said...

Your post reminds me of an old Christian rock song by Greg X. Volz that encourages people to "Break Out of the Trance". What a message...so easy to get "comfortable" and then fall asleep in that coziness...no action. Hey! I just blogged about that topic today (action)-must be a God Thing. ( :
(BTW, here's a link to that old song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzz_jTcLXxk)

Kathryn said...

Love that analogy, LauraLee!

Peculiar said...

Laura Lee, I just love this! How many times have I woken up from a spiritual slumber (although I like to think that I'm on the spiritual alert all of the time) and here comes the next trial around the corner. We were just talking about this in my class this morning at church. We recognized that there are times where He may allow trials one after another so that we can stay spiritually alert, understand that we ALWAYS need Him, and press into Him daily. We may have trials for other reasons, but this certainly is one of them, I believe.

Thanks for this message today. It describes a lot of us a lot of the time, some of the time, or a little. Either way, WE ALWAYS NEED HIM!!

bp said...

Thank you for sharing. You did a wonderful job writing this and you're right, too often we go into a zombie state in our spiritual walks.

Gigi said...

What a fantastic analogy! I look forward to visiting your blog every day - I know I'll be blessed, and I am!

Laurie Ann said...

This was simply beautiful and true. Love the message. Thanks, LauraLee, and thanks for visiting my blog. Your comments are always so sweet and encouraging.

Betsy Markman said...

So true, so true!
I can't believe I've been missing this blog! Every time you've commented on my site, I've thought that your blog was one that I've been enjoying all along. But somehow I hadn't gotten in on my list, and I've been missing something wonderful. I will fix that problem immediately!

Maybe I would have realized it sooner if I weren't such a zombie...
:-)

Thanks again for touching my life.

Sita said...

I battle the spiritual zombitis frequently and I hate it..I do what I do not want to do..at times I wish that my relationship with God did not require so much of my active participation...I wish there was some magic 'aura' that kept me where I should be..close to Him..so He has to send me nudges..painful..but how I cherish them...

this actually reminds me a C.S.Lewis-like analogy--so apt. I hope you don't mind me adding you to my Blogs that Bless. Thank you!