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,