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August 19, 2021

Stuck in a Rut

18 Comments/ 121/ 0

A repost from several years ago but one that I needed to reread. Enjoy.

This afternoon I took a much needed break and sat still for about an hour on my back porch.  There was a gentle breeze blowing across the lake, the birds were chirping and singing, the hummingbirds were flitting and the squirrel had abandoned my bird feeder for a bit.  Never fear, he will be back once I go back inside.

seeds3

I had just finished using the leaf blower to blow the deck clean of cobwebs, birdseed and these little teeny tiny balls that have been dropping from a tree that is next to the deck.

To say that these little ball things are annoying is an understatement.  This is one of the messiest trees I have seen next to the River Birch tree that is always shedding something.  I am usually barefoot  and these little guys hurt when I walk on them.

seeds

They are prolific and just when I manage to get one area free of them more drop down to make their presence known.  

seeds2

The problem with trying to rid of them is that they stick in the ruts of the boards on the deck.  They are the perfect size and once they are in there a simple blow from the leaf blower does not dislodge them.  

They are essentially stuck in a rut.

Hundreds of them.

Things like this always make me stop and think.

I know.  I think about weird things sometimes but these little balls got me to thinking about how often “I” get stuck in a rut.  Oh–I travel a bit and have had some amazing opportunities that have popped up for me in my life but sometimes my spiritual life is what gets stuck in a rut.

A quick prayer.  A short devotional here and there.  A few words jotted down in my journal that are inspired by a Bible verse.  But quite often those things are lacking and I realize that the rut that I am stuck in is one that needs to be broken.

seeds4

What happens when I break out of my rut?  Only time will tell but hopefully I will begin to sprout.  Maybe like this errant piece of birdseed that found its way to another crack in my decking. 

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Christian living devotional. inspirational sprouting taking root
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18 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Doreen
    August 04, 2016 at 07:35 am

    How often I have had similar thoughts. Such a “buffet” world we live in! Snatch a bit here; grab a tad there; an thought snippet/conversation partially heard (not focused??? Me????); a ‘God-nudge’ overlooked. My porch swing has, also, been neglected of late. It’s my ‘go-to’ summer quiet spot, but has been “invaded” by the construction of the nearby garage. An excuse??? Perhaps. But, I know there must be a change……..a pull-back……more than a quick ‘snatch’ of time to allow that little seed to sprout. Thank you so much for a post I needed to “hear”!!!!! Hugs……………..

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      August 04, 2016 at 07:38 am

      Thank YOU! It helps to know that I am not alone in my lack of focus lately. I crave it and I must realize that that needs to be the priority of my days and not all of the other “stuff” that seems to fill it. Hugs back.

      Reply
  2. Jennifer Flaa
    August 04, 2016 at 07:57 am

    I think we all feel stuck in a rut sometimes! Especially when we are tired or have a lot going on.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      August 04, 2016 at 09:06 am

      You are right. So I need to be gentle with myself, right?

      Reply
  3. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    August 04, 2016 at 08:56 am

    Here’s another devotional for that book of devotionals you will be compiling and submitting to a publisher. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      August 04, 2016 at 09:05 am

      🙂 Someday….

      Reply
  4. Sara Broers
    August 04, 2016 at 10:34 am

    Ah yes,,,, we’ve all been there! Although my “stuck in a rut” experience looks better than those little leaf blowing things!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      August 04, 2016 at 10:35 am

      They are so annoying! But a reminder that even annoying things have a purpose. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Priscilla King
    August 04, 2016 at 01:43 pm

    Ick, I hate leaf blowers. Might as well give in and ream those seeds out with a stray broom straw.

    Reply
  6. Marci B
    August 05, 2016 at 05:57 pm

    An appropriate song for this post?

    Reply
  7. hilary
    August 07, 2016 at 07:29 am

    I think we all are there, and probably more often then not.

    Reply
  8. John
    September 05, 2016 at 11:59 pm

    A vacation away, writing out / listing my annoyances, exercising and getting enough sleep all help me get out of ruts… now I am making a brief list of things I want to do before I die!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      September 06, 2016 at 07:10 am

      Great idea to make a list and do those things to get yourself out of ruts! It is a very easy thing to do!

      Reply
  9. jena c. henry
    August 19, 2021 at 06:19 am

    Good post. Little did you know that a few years later you’d be stuck in a rut for a whole year! Well, hopefully not spiritually but certainly stuck at home! But you don’t seem like a “rut” kinda gal. Have a good day!

    Reply
  10. Darlene
    August 19, 2021 at 07:24 am

    Are those annoying little balls seeds from the tree? Perhaps baby trees will start growing out of your deck!!

    Reply
  11. dawnkinster
    August 19, 2021 at 08:23 am

    Just this morning I was thinking that I have fallen into a rut…

    Reply
  12. Mama's Empty Nest
    August 19, 2021 at 11:07 am

    That rut is all too familiar.

    Reply
  13. Shirley Matthews Dunn
    August 19, 2021 at 11:44 am

    You are truly not alone. I am in the same rut and have been for a while. Hearing things live you blog helps. Thank for reminding us.

    Reply

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