I am n vacation this week. See here. My guest today is Larry “the Deuce.” He blogs at Deucology. Larry, like Floyd, works in the construction industry and I relish his “take” on things. Here’s Larry:
It’s an honor to stand in for my good blogging friend, Bill, today. I hope that I can live up to his lofty standards.
Last week I wrote a post over on my blog where I described the fact that I had developed a type of “laryngitis”. This laryngitis was one where I had lost my blogging voice. I could still, and did still, croak out my own required posting schedule each weak, but I could barely speak. I had lost my mojo.
Somewhere, even after that post, I realized what two things were missing from my blog over the past few months.
Passion and Purpose.
I had lost both of these things in what I had been writing of late.
Your reaction? It might be, so what? The thing is that it might have happened to you. Not necessarily in a blog. You may not be a blogger. That doesn’t mean you haven’t developed laryngitis in your life. You may have lost both your passion and your purpose.
You may have lost your passion and purpose in any area of your life. Your job? Happens all the time.
Your marriage? Unfortunately, much too often.
Your relationship with the Lord? More often than you think, they disappear.
Somewhere along the way, it has probably happened to you.
The question is can you get it back? Absolutely.
Don’t ask me how. That isn’t the purpose of this post. I only want you to keep trying.
If your job is a little fuzzy, keep going in. Keep a good attitude.
Your marriage isn’t going the way you hoped it would? Keep loving your spouse, even when you don’t want to.
Your relationship with the Lord has gone dark and you feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling? Keep praying and keep pursuing.
You’ve lost your voice in your blog? Keep writing. And writing. And writing. Until you get your mojo back.
Whatever it is that you used to be passionate and purposeful about, keep going after it. Keep going until you regain that passion and purpose.
Like Jim Valvano once said, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
Have you ever lost your purpose and passion? Did you get it back? What did you do?
Thanks for the opportunity, Bill.
You’re welcome my friend. Thanks for filling in.
You’re alive! 😀
Yep. My grandson is having a rare moment: he is still asleep! Lol. Thx 4 posting yesterday & responding.
Glad you’re having a great time, Bill.
I have had laryngitis in multiple areas of my life over the years. Luckily I have been fairly quick to recover most of the time. Some things though have not been so quick to rebound, and those I am still seeking recovery in.
It doesn’t all come at once, does it Daniel?
YES…I just replied to another blog along the same lines that I have been thinking about quitting, blogging that is. I have tried to tell myself its the season of my life, early winter. Honestly, I am just seeking the Lord on this. Thanks brother for the encouragement. Good post
Thanks Betty. Sometimes it definitely is a season that we go through.
I know exactly what you’re talking about, Larry. The last year was somewhat empty blog-wise for me as well. Too much was going on, too many changes in personal life as well as work and Church and I just… stared at that blank screen of the WordPress admin page.
At times like this, I remember the phrase a friend of mine used to tell me… “Keep on keeping on.” Sometimes we worry that one step at a time is way too slow, but wise Chinese guys said that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Thanks for the incredibly encouraging post!
Glad to encourage, Zee.
Yeah, I have had this problem. Usually it’s because I get distracted from my focus, too buy and generally out of alignment. Kathy Howard’s book Flat Faith helped me confront many of the reasons this was happening. I actually wrote a series called Battling Boredom to help me work through what you’re talking about. But your main point – don’t give up – is really THE key. Scripture tells us this too. James 1:4 gets at the idea of endurance and crossing the finish line. If nothing else today, don’t give up. The rest will work itself out.
I’ll have to check that book out, Kari.
I hope this boat doesn’t sink! There might be too many of us in it!
I think you hit the nail on the head, Larry, (you and can appreciate that analogy!) it is all about perseverance.
There are days writing when it feels like it would be easier pushing a wet rope up a steep hill, but when that crest on the hill finally comes the words flow like Niagara Falls!
Thanks for the boost of juice, Larry!
Good reminder, Larry. I think, in hindsight, those seasons turn out to be the seasons of biggest growth. Those times when we just keep putting on foot in front of the other when it’s the hardest thing to do.
That is something to think about, Eileen, how these times can be times of growth.
I lose it all the time.
Then I get back up and get at it, again.
Trying to relay to other Christians that they are free in Christ and that they do not have to be on a religious/spirituality ladder-climbing project, is a tough purpose to have. The folks who love that sort of stuff will wear you down, once in a while.
I don’t think any of us are immune, Old Adam.
I agree with you, Larry. Many times the best course of action is to keep moving and pressing forward. You stop and lose something special, but if you keep following Jesus into what He called you to, you’ll find that passion again. I’ve done that many times with blogging over the years. There are times when I’m so excited to share and other times it’s a chore. Either way I trust Him because He started the journey and I want to walk with Him until it’s finished. Good reminder. Thanks.
That’s right, Jason, we’re on a journey with HIm.
Great post Larry! When I feel a lose of purpose or passion I now it’s time to take a break. After a day of resting and relaxing my thoughts and mind become clear and refocused.
It’s funny because I’ve been going through similar things lately and blogged about it myself. What helps me is remembering the reward. Remembering that I will reap what I sow if I just keep plowing forward.
I’ve been suffering from laryngitis in many areas but the worst of late is work. My wife and I just went on a vacation without the kids for the first time in 16 years. It was for our anniversary and it was great. But since I’ve been back getting my work mojo going again has been a huge challenge. I’ve been here for many years and lately I’m just “showing up”, clocking in but never arriving so to speak. Maybe it’s time to start looking for an open window somewhere …