Discipline Needed

So today is a new start for so many things: school for 2 of the kids, a new year for Iona, and Fall starting to blow in. I’m hoping I can use this time to tap into some of that momentum and get some things going.

Take this site, for example. I set it up intending to update it fairly regularly with various thoughts & experiences I have as well as the latest news that was happening with the family. But, I haven’t updated in quite a while. What I need here is discipline.

But that’s what I continue to learn about so many areas of life: it all takes discipline. At least the things that are worthwhile do. It’s easy for me to eat junk food, grab coffee, veg in front of the tv, and tweet my latest random thoughts. But to exercise, read through my booklist, keep up with correspondence, be regularly in the word, & continually in prayer, I have to discipline myself.

Kim & I have been looking forward to the school year starting because the kids have been in need of further structure for the last month. But the truth is, I need the structure as well. I work at keeping tasks and goals organized and accomplished, but if I don’t intentionally and systematically guard the time, it can get away from me without too of a fight. And it doesn’t take nearly as long to lose something I find important as it does to gain it back.

What will it profit a man if he can accomplish the easy things, but forfeits those which are costly? That, of course, is my paraphrase and my application of Jesus’ words, but it hits me where I live. And so I am reminded and challenged by Paul’s words: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27