Feeling blue?
Down? Depressed?
Ever heard of the term “acedia?”
Acedia s from Latin acedĭa, and this from Greek – “negligence”, ἀ- “lack of” -κηδία “care”).
This term has been defined as “a state of listlessness or torpor” of not caring or not being concerned with one’s position or condition in the world.
Felt this way lately?
SO many have and still do.
In ancient Greece akidía literally meant an “inert state without pain or care.”
Early Christians used the term to define a spiritual state of listlessness and from there the term developed a markedly Christian moral tone. In modern times it has been taken up by literary figures and connected to depression.
Well…
I felt this way last week.
So have some of my friends.
It’s hard not to.
Covid days, a polar vortex storm, days on end of passions and purposes thwarted leads to downward spirals.
Countless days have been downers.
We’ve lost people we cared about to Covid – great people.
The power outages and ramifications of the recent snow storm seem unending. A friend in Texas said “well, our power stayed on but I feel I’ve lost all MY electricity and energy.”
So. Much. Awful.
I get it. It’s everywhere.
But…
WE CAN’T STAY THERE.
Depression, malaise, the blues, anxiety & acedia need to be exposed and banished.
You CAN do that.
Together, WE can do it.
Gordy Guest and I prayed that feeling of acedia away on Saturday and, within a few hours, joy was back. Literally, a heaviness over and in our home lifted. We felt it leave.
Friends, these are tough days.
We can be tougher. 💪🏼🙏🏼
We MUST chose to go after the negativity and get. it. OUT.
We were SO encouraged today, at Asbury, our church in Tulsa by our Sunday School class, by Pastor Tom’s awesome message (go to Asbury on Facebook and tune in) and by one worship song in particular called “King of Kings,” by Hillsong.
My favorite lyrics in that song are these beautiful words:
“In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light
‘Til from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfill the law and prophets
To a virgin came the word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt”
We can combat acedia through tapping in to the love of Christ.
Talking about this “acedia” feeling with those you trust, praying with others, PRAISING in the midst of pain and being with the body of Christ all help.
Because we are empty nesting, we worship at both Asbury & at Life.Church. We love both places and are grateful for encouraging people and wonderful pastors & messages.
Tap in, friends.
Don’t stay down.
Choose.
Choose joy.
Choose joy TODAY.
Choose to go after joy, hope and let’s collectively wake up.
Tough times call for us to arise in Whose we are and who we are.
We were not made to stay down, to live with the blues or in a state of “not caring”.
On a wonderfully encouraging Empty Nest Guests podcast, I interviewed Michelle Van Loon, author of Becoming Sage. She’s awesome and taught me about the term “acedia”.
Acedia is gripping our society…even the most positive people and it’s time to expose it and rise against it.
It’s time to recover joy.
May the song King of Kings bless you.
May Pastor Tom’s message bless you.
Turn on praise music.
Call a friend.
God wants so much more for His people.
The snow will melt and the sun will emerges this week. Praise Him for that.
As power is restored to homes, may His power be restored in you.
“CHOOSE this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will choose to serve the Lord.”
Josh. 24:15
Together, let’s battle the blues wreaking havoc on our world.
Here’s the song we loved:
And, to listen to the podcast with Michelle Van Loon, go here:
Thanks for reading the blog. May you be blessed today and know how special you are. 🌻
Empty Nest Guests 