i found this paper in my Bible from a long time ago. to be honest, i don't even remember what i was taking notes from!
it had a few quotes, the name of a speaker, the name of a book, and a few other things.
it had this quote for one...
satan is a gradualist. he moves slowly...one step at a time.
i looked up gradualist.
the actual definition is: a. the belief in, or policy of advancing toward a goal by gradual, often slow stages. b. the policy of seeking to change something or achieve a goal gradually rather than quickly.
i started thinking about that.
i was kind of thinking that that is how we can be.
things are gradual. like...gaining weight. spending money. letting the housework build up. ignoring problems that need to be dealt with.
but as i was looking at this based on the definition, i realized that i am not a gradualist.
see...a gradualist is advancing slowly toward a goal.
my *goal* is not to get to the point that i can't button my jeans.
my *goal* is not go get to the point that my bank account becomes empty, that the house will explode due to the amount of unfolded laundry or that i will eventually have no friends at all because of the fact that i ignore problems.
what my problem is, is that i am lackadaisical.
fun word, right? i admit i had to google it to make sure i spelled it correctly, and i may have thrown an "x" in there when i searched. it did, however, come up with that spelling in the urban dictionary. so maybe i'm just that cool. ha!
fun word, but not a fun meaning.
lacking interest. carelessly lazy.
i couldn't stop thinking about that definition.
carelessly lazy.
i don't think of myself as lazy. i am not the kind of person that sits still normally.
i move a lot.
but i can see how it would be possible for me to be careless. that implies that i am being lazy by accident. it is not intentional, but it is none the less...lazy.
i do not want lazy, or lackadaisical, or careless to ever describe me. ever.
what does that look like?
well, maybe it looks like the important things of life are starting to lack interest.
you know what i mean.
i am not even going to write examples. because i am writing this to get you thinking.
my list of areas that i am becoming lazy in are going to be different than yours.
i am writing a list.
right now. and i am going to make a conscious effort to be the opposite of carelessly lazy.
*attentive, careful, cautious, mindful, and READY.
*diligent, hard working, energetic and ACTIVE!
today...instead of being carelessly lazy, i am going to be mindfully diligent!
Proverbs 14:16
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless
Amazing!! I too want to be mindfully diligent. Thank you for this!!! interesting about the gradualist definition!
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