One Reason for Restlessness

One reason for restlessness these days is the expectation of a series of ever ascending excitements. We hear of those who are bored, those who expect experiences always to be more sensational, entertainment always to be more spectacular. We hear of those who are disappointed because teaching and learning are more or less routine and repetitious; because sermons sometimes seem the same. But not every occasion, every sentence, every experience can reach a new high. Sometimes we may read a whole book and feel rewarded if we find in it a single memorable sentence. We may hear a whole sermon and be rewarded if we find in it only one thought that helps to meet a problem or move us toward improvement. We may read a play, and find that there is much that is preliminary to getting to the plot, or to the climax of the play. In literature there is much that is preface. In poetry, not every line is thrilling. Nor is music all climax. Nor would it be pleasant if it were all crash and crescendo. Many of the great masters have written and painted much that is mediocre. And in eating everything isn’t dessert. Nor can all our foods be condiments and spices. There are the staples, the necessary filling component parts. Much of life is lived in the in-between times, and there are essential duties, routine tasks, daily things that have to be done. Much of life is simple and quiet⎯and should be. And we do well if we learn the blessing of routine duty, or quiet content, along with the thrills, the highlights, the peaks, and the special experiences. We do well to give gratitude for simple food, for health to eat it; for quiet companionship, and the good sense to enjoy it; for simple things, for the fill-in, for routine, for the in-between times, with some climaxes, some thrills, and highlights⎯but not expecting an endless series of excitements.