June 29, 2011 with 23 Comments

376.

Boringophobia

I have a disease. It’s called boringophobia.

I worry about being boring.

I know. I know. The mother in you wants to tell me I’m not. And I appreciate it.

But when you’re sick, you’re sick. I know these things. I’m a doctor.

I worry that my blogs are too long. I worry when they’re too short. I worry that my style has gotten too predictable. I worry when I go a couple of days without many comments. I worry that I may get plain old boring.

You don’t have to tell me what the Bible says about worry. I already know it.

I even worry that I worry.

I asked my sister if my blog posts had gotten boring lately because of overuse of the outline format. She said: “No, but you can change it up a bit.”

What???

I’m boring you. I know it. I can just feel it.

“No, I didn’t say that”, she answered. “I just suggested you mix things up”.

Why? Because I’m boring?

See. I’m doing it again. I’m worrying. And odds are, I’m boring too.

Do you get stuck in the trap of wanting to please everyone?

You know what I’m talking about. You’re happy when others commend you. You feel successful when people applaud you. You fish for compliments by blogging about being boring (don’t you dare leave me a comment telling me how great you think I am).

Alternatively, your day is ruined when people ignore you or overlook you. You shape your words and actions on what you assume others expect of you. You threaten to quit if people don’t appreciate you. You overreact to criticism by dwelling on it too long or allowing it to depress you.

It’s exhausting – I know.

I like you, my faithful readers, but I don’t want to impress you. I want to minister to you. I don’t want to entertain you. I want to help you grow in your walk with the Lord. I’m not trying to grow a following. I’m trying to strengthen your resolve in following Jesus.

At the heart of boringophobia is a heart of idolatry. Idolatry is looking to someone (in my case, the readers) to do for me those things that only God can do.

Boring is as boring does.

It’s time to refocus. It’s time to get a vision check.

Big God. Little people.

Success.

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  • Lisa

    Keep on blogging.

  • Joelle

    NO you are NOT boring AND I totally relate to this post. I was in charge of the Bible Study portion of our church’s women’s ministry for a couple of years and while I got tons of positive feedback, you are never going to make everyone happy. Ultimately, the criticisms (on time, place, frequency, subject matter, what-have-you) made me resign my post. I just couldn’t stop dwelling on the negative. It just ate away at me. And you’re right, it was a heart of idolatry that was really eating me alive.

  • Gina

    Definitely keep blogging. You have a gift. What keeps me tuned in your knowledge of the Bible since I am a new believer that’s important 2 me.and that you put your personality into some of topics. I don’t think the word boring describes you at all.Have a great day :)

  • Carol

    John 13:16 – I think you’d have to try hard to make God’s message uninteresting. Just keep speaking the truth, Sister. THAT is never boring.

  • Denise Archambault

    If God’s truth, godly honesty and transparency in His servant, posts that challenge the reader to that same level of honesty and transparency with other believers, humor, sensitivity, and bookworthy recipes and poems are boring, then well…yes, you are boring. Better make sure you read this carefully so you get the irony and don’t start worrying that I actually called you boring!

    • E-Dub

      While I would say that you’re not boring, I don’t think you are all that great either. But that’s okay, because our God is great. :-) I totally feel you, sister, on all accounts. The whole people pleasing, and wondering about your effectiveness, etc. I often want to comment on your blogs more, but I just flat out don’t have the time. My life is pretty crazy busy.But I make time to read it every day, and reap spiritual encouragement from it. I say that, as a reminder, because I am confident there are many other readers out there such as me. Seem very quiet, but are following regularly. It is some of these very reasons why I have been reluctant to start a blog in the past. Because I don’t want to get wrapped up in some of these distractions, even if it’s temporary. But at the end of the day always remember that in our weakness God is our strength. So he can still use you, and still does use you, in spite of these hangups. Now, get back to doing what you do best—-being boring. :-)

      • Lina

        Thx e dub! Totally agree with u!

  • Z

    Amen, Lina. Thank you

  • Jennine G

    Lina- I hear you. I struggle with people pleasing, but, all it is is pride.

  • Jan Barclay

    I appreciate this comment so much: “I don’t want to impress you. I want to minister to you. I don’t want to entertain you. I want to help you grow in your walk with the Lord. I’m not trying to grow a following. I’m trying to strengthen your resolve in following Jesus.”

  • Tom Derrico

    Lina :)

    I relate to this immensely…. I have been reading your blogs for several months now. You truly have a gift of ministering yet have the “witty” side as well. Keep doing what you do girl :) At the end of the day it doesnt matter what people think about us, If we are serving the Lord and building his kingdom, All that matters is what God thinks of us. In human form easier said than done, I get that……Jesus said “follow me”…. NOT people. Thanks be to God that we are relational not conditional through faith in Christ for paying that debt that we could never pay.

    And i am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
    Phillipians 1:6

    Sooo, Keep rockin it out :) No boring post’ here!
    Hey Btw, Again it was great meeting you Sunday

    • Lina

      Thx tom! This is almost as good as a twitter mention:)

  • Anne

    When you feel like you’re not getting enough comments remember that for those of us who get your blog via email have to get into your site & click the “continue reading” on the blog (that we just read) to comment! 2 easy steps but when your lazy like me they’re steps that I often don’t take thinking my comment isn’t that important anyway!!! :)

    • Lina

      Just trying to make it hard on you anne! Ha! I don’t think any comments are uninteresting or unimportant!

  • Sue

    Wow! My heart totally resonates with that! I am not a traditional “people pleaser”, but if I’ve hurt someone by something I’ve said or done, I will ruminate on how I could have handled it differently, etc. Thanks for your desire to minister—it is being fulfilled whether we ever comment or not! The reason I often do not comment is I don’t know if I really want everyone to read what I may want to be for you alone! Btw, is that Tom guy single, Lina?

    • Lina

      Good words! And for everyone have no fear. I’m not intending to quit this blog. But this blog is worth it to hear from all of you! You all made my day:)

  • http://ZCxz Milo

    When people are big your God becomes. Small. Keep people where they are and look to a great God who alone satisfies and meets all our needs. I enjoy your blogs. Hope your write for an audience prone . this is all that matters. Live life to. Please Him alone who rewards.

    • Lina

      Milo meant to say “for an audience of one” not “prone”…that darn iPad..

  • Gina

    Your words and knowledge and strength in tour lectures. Means alot.it gets kinda hard to read all these to mom.but she loves it too.have a great night

  • Amber

    Amen Sister! I don’t ever want to make people or things bigger then God. I have given up watching T.V. just so I can have more time with God. I find that I don’t worry as much as I did when I was watching it. This blog has helped me grow closer with the Lord. It has also given me a new friendship with some God loving peeps. The Lord will work in so many way with us needing a comment every couple of days. Not worrying is a hard thing to do on your own. To think back when my mom was sick that I didn’t worry that I may never see her again. That was God right their holding me! Every day we have is a gift, why waste it on worrying?

    • ramzi

      Thanks, this is good comment. You seem to have benefitted greatly.

  • ramzi

    how did this blog get so many comments? lol…keep on doing your thing sister!

  • Gina

    Ramzi love your thoughts! Wow my mom&I love this blog. God has amazing ways to spread his word thru gifted people. Lina you Rock.night.