Lazy Discipline

I came back from Chiangmai a wreck. Actually correction: I arrived and departed Chiangmai a wreck.

During my 8 days in the old capital of Thailand, I slept a grand total of 3 nights and stayed up the rest of the nights engaged in er - confrontation of sorts (We'll get into that later). Suffice to say that I was really exhausted when I hit the KL airport last Thursday. So tired I slept 3 days in a row. I did manage to wake up and get to church on Sunday though.

Now I am supposed to get cracking on some stories... and preparation for bible classes this weekend.

I wish (I really do) that I could wake up every morning raring to dig into study books, fired-up to pray and immerse myself in bible truths. Truth is, discipline is so darned hard. I've gotta make myself do it, and sometimes (most times!) I've gotta admit... it adds up to a really lame effort on my part. And it doesn't help when James says those who teach are held to greater accountability. Great motivation, huh?

So it really encourages me to watch my friend. She, in my estimation, is one of the sharper tools in the shed of the Word. She lives simply (the downward-mobile type), takes care of her ageing mom, is all passionate about missions and has no pretense about her. She is like a "sifu"... I would throw her a question and the answer, even though not new, boomerangs back with a profound ring to it. She's also an excellent bible teacher. And 60.

So, in the mornings and evenings when I switch on the pc and stare at the thick books next to it, I am comforted by the fact that my friend has gone through a similar pile, perhaps even higher. And when I realise how she still goes through the rigourous discipline of self-study, yet makes it seem so effortless, I see an art form mastered with the help of the Spirit, cradled by the passage of time.

I am learning.


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