Shallowness Can Be Deadly

The mind is an enigma, a puzzle without end.  Used unconsciously, we are unaware of any drift until we arrive.  Quick to turn and bend, our efforts are constant, reaching for control and purpose.  Some, like an ostrich burrowing its head in sand, settle for unknowing until it forms an oasis...glimmering, indistinct yet mesmerizing in obscurity. 

“She avoids deep thought like an empty restaurant, not out of stupidity, but a canny resolve to be happy.”  ― Alex Shakar, Luminarium

Shallowness of thought invites the intrusion of thousands of twitter posts to whirl our days in the illusion of datable knowledge.  A scintillating glance, no more no less.  And like a tiny ship on tumultuous seas, our thoughts are bounced from side to side with no place to land.

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."  (Colossians 2:8)

Breathing deep is reserved for medical purposes, for shallow breathing becomes our norm.  Effortless, painless and uncomplicated.

Shallow attitudes bring forth shallow conversation, birthing emotional damage and harmful relationships. Caring involves deep feeling, careful consideration of another, because love cannot survive in shallowness of heart.

Prayers are stifled by shallowness, useless in purpose and effect.  Time and thoughtful contemplation is required.   

"And yet, we all are tempted to embrace a false posture in prayer. Perhaps this false posture is sitting in our dustiness. Rather than relating to God from our acceptance in Christ, we try to self-generate righteousness to make Him love us. Maybe we don’t avoid our sin in prayer, but we sulk in it. We spend our time in prayer brooding, beating ourselves up, and trying to manage our dustiness. In effect, prayer becomes a place to commune with ourselves rather than with God. We search within for answers to the problems we uncover and continue to roll around in the dust over and over, thinking it will clean us off just like Dusty the chinchilla. Prayer becomes a place for self-talk, self-fixing, self-condemnation, and self-obsession."  (Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel, Beloved Dust) 

Life as a Christian can entertain no shallowness. The love of Christ, the faithfulness of God, the indwelling of the Spirit can no more be held down, suppressed or silenced!  For it is our purpose, our objective, obsessively pursued, nurtured and shouted that the ultimate sacrifice covers us all.  Christ must be shared in fullness, in prayerful attitude, in humility and in love. 

Lord, may we no longer attempt to keep You to ourselves, safe within the cocoon of the walls we've built for ourselves.  May our endeavors never be shallow but pure in spirit, impassioned with the zeal and wonder of one who forever holds your majesty and power in awe, in reverence and amazement!