Routines

Are habits the same as routines?

I tend to think not. Habits seem more like the kinds of things you simply fall into, whereas routines are things you consciously make an effort to hone. But I suppose in the end it all depends on the person and the nature of the thing being done.

One day not long ago I got up and began doing things the way I always do them, as is my habit. I made the bed, got dressed, went outside to feed the birds, washed the breakfast dishes, etc., etc. But on this particular day, unlike the others, I started really paying attention to the way I do things and the order in which I do them. I kind of surprised myself at just how habitual these things had become.

At the risk of sounding obsessive, I'll let you in on a little secret. I don't just make the bed, first thing when I get up; I make it in a certain order... always. The bed is undressed on my side, but put back together from Tom's. The covers are smoothed, the pillows plumped, blanket strewn all in sequence. It feels somehow unnatural to do it in any other order, any other way. It's like being on autopilot. I'm not sure I could change it up if I tried!

Who am I? And when did I become like this?!

My habits have become routines... and I like my routines.

I walk the same routes in my neighborhood, varying between only two, except when I do my prayer walking down at the soccer fields on Fridays. My morning walks are important to me, especially Friday's. It's my standing date with God. That accidental habit has become a cherished routine.

I volunteer on Mondays, catch up with my San Antonio daughter on Tuesdays, clean on Thursdays, blog on Fridays... mostly. There's quite a lot of routine in my life. My goodness, I even have a routine for practicing my trumpet. I do the same warm-up exercises in the same order each and every time I pull out the horn! *That little tidbit was shared by Tom when I mentioned to him what this blog post was going to be about. Thanks, Honey, for your support ;).

I guess what I'm trying to say is... I like routines. They keep me grounded, and organized, and disciplined; and frankly, I do much better operating that way. Please tell me you get that... that I'm not crazy or alone in my love of predictability.

The great thing about a routine is how wonderful and exciting it can be when an opportunity arises to be spontaneous! It's a true treat. Things can be purposely set aside for a time to relish in the sheer freedom of the blank page. No time tables. No boundaries. No limitations. At least speaking for myself here, I'm not sure I would love those times of abandon nearly as much without the borders of that aforementioned predictability.

However, there is also a flip side to being too grounded in routine. There is always a danger in becoming a slave to it... in becoming so rigid we break during those times when life becomes anything but routine. When we experience job loss, illness, accidents, natural disasters, moves, empty nests, deaths of loved ones, our lives are turned upside down. Whether for a month, or a year, or indefinitely, that predictability, that routine, has given way to what seems like chaos. We fight frantically to right ourselves, but we just can't do it, not alone.

As much as we would like to think we have our life in check, under control, routines firmly in place... we don't. We can't. We weren't designed to be that kind of self-reliant. We were designed to be God-reliant. And that's a really good thing, because God is One who can be relied upon... the only One. He says of Himself that He is changeless. He embodies predictability. He defines routine, for it is He who shows up in our lives each and every day more faithful than the sun that rises and sets. He is there for us when we wake and when we sleep. He walks with us through every joy and every difficulty. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing is beyond His grasp. There is no problem He doesn't have an answer for. He is our past, our present, and our future. He is our salvation and our eternal hope.

Now that's the kind of routine worth cultivating. Try as I may to purpose my routines to give order, clarity, and definition to my days, I can't. They will ultimately let me down, but when I put my reliance on my heavenly Father to bring order and clarity and definition to my life, He will do it.

And that's the best kind of routine I could ever hope for.