This is officially my 200th post to this blog. It’s been very helpful and fulfilling for me to have this outlet to share my thoughts, and in many ways to process my thoughts out in the open. And to have a record of how I’ve progressed in my understanding of what God’s plan for my life looks like. For those of you following along at home, I thank you. And hope that in some small way, something I’ve discussed has been meaningful in your spiritual walk as well.

Today, I want to talk about staying awake, alive and in the moment when pursuing God. It’s been something I’ve battled the last few years, and you can see evidence by flipping back through the 200 posts on this blog. You’ll see seasons where I’ve written regularly and been very much alert in my spiritual walk. You’ll also notice times when the well was dry and it appeared that I had closed up shop.

Early on in this journey, I read a book about living wide awake. It’s stuck with me. What I’ve come to realize is that living wide awake requires me to do a few things.

#1 – Wake Up

This happened for me a while back. The initial wake up call that jolted me into action. The mini epiphanies I’ve been having since that moment that open my eyes to new insights. Opening myself to the truths that God has for me and receiving them. For each day to start, you literally have to physically and mentally wake up! In a spiritual sense, that requires a desire to see God. 

#2 – Get Up

There can be quite an expansive space between waking up and actually getting up. My wife and I can vouch for that with our morning routine. It’s not uncommon for the alarm to blare, and the kids to climb the bed while we both fight to stay beneath the covers with our eyes closed for another 5 precious minutes. This can go on for quite a while. Same goes for my spiritual pursuits. Just because I’ve opened my eyes from a desire to see God, doesn’t mean I’ll get there. It requires motivation to take initiative and get on my feet.

#3 Stay Up

I always have grand expectations and intentions for my evenings, once work is done and the kids are in bed. Oh, the writing I will do! Oh, the things I will accomplish! But lately, what happens a lot is that I’ll pass out on the couch at 9:30 pm watching American Idol on DVR. I remember laughing at my grandfather as a child, because he would always pass out the instant he would sit down in his recliner, no matter what time of day/night it was. But it’s easy to be physically, mentally, spiritually exhausted. To be beaten down by life, circumstances, trials. Truly living wide awake requires  perseverance to stay alert when the only thing I want to do is close my eyes and check out.

In my spiritual journey, there have been many instances when I didn’t possess the appropriate desire to see God. Or when I didn’t possess the approrpiate motivation to pursue him. Or when I was just too exhausted or tired or lazy to persevere and stay on fire for Him.

There’s a Japanese Proverb that I love which says, “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” That’s my approach to my journey. Fall asleep seven times, wake up eight!