going through the motions

The winter doldrums. The doldrums are that place in the ocean where the wind suddenly is gone...sails collapse, and you are going nowhere fast (unless you have a good motor!).  I am there.  I feel like I have gotten to that point in the winter where I am just going through the motions and have somehow lost the spirit of living joyfully in each moment and each day.  I make myself do the laundry, go to the gym and swim my mile, run the errands. But it just feels like going through the motions. I need to be inspired.

Throughout the day, I find myself saying little prayers, like this morning: "Lord, I don't want to get in this cold pool, but I'm going to do it anyway."  Because I know it's good for me (body and spirit). Because there is somehow a joy in sticking with disciplines like exercise. I probably need to look at what my disciplines are right now and add a few more that bring joy. Light a candle. Warm my hands on a hot cup of cocoa or cider. Spend time in scripture. Do a little knitting and not feel guilty for the time that passes with those needles in my hands.

The words to the Matthew West song "The Motions" have been in my head all day.  I share it with you, so that it might bring us all out of our doldrums and into more JOY in our lives:

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
(abridged)