05.20
Every now and then, a ‘blue day’ sneaks up on me. Of course, I’d always prefer ‘orange days’ - bright and cheery. They make me feel so much more spiritual, but some days just aren’t orange. When I was younger, I didn’t know how to react to blue days. Sometimes, I’d work harder (but as I got older, that didn’t work so well). Then, I’d try to figure out why I’m blue (that just frustrated me). So then I’d try to figure out what I needed to do to ‘snap out of it’ (that just frustrated me even more!).
I’ve had a ‘blue’ week this week. Just in case you’re a fixer, please don’t send me your suggestions. They frustrate me even more than the ‘snap out of it’ platitudes. It’s kinda funny, but all the little platitudes that I used in my 20′s don’t work anymore.
But here’s what I do when I get blue…
1. Don’t Try to ‘Snap Out of It’. I don’t make these times come and I can’t make them go away. I used to see them as bad… unspiritual, but I don’t anymore. I see them as a gift from God.
2. Slow Down. When I’m having a blue day (or week), I cancel some appointments and slow up my schedule. I can’t cancel everything, but I can reschedule some. God instructed Elijah to slow down when he was ‘blue’. So, I figure that’s some pretty good advice.
3. Pray More. My best prayer times are when I’m blue. (For the record… orange days should also include great prayer times; but for me, they rarely do.) As I pray, I try not to let my prayers digress into a pity party. Instead, I spend time thanking God for the blessings he has given me. This time of gratitude doesn’t make the clouds go away. But it’s very good for my soul.
4. Exercise & Sleep. We miss the importance of exercise and sleep in the Bible. It was a NATURAL part of their DAILY routine. They didn’t have cars, TV’s, or electricity to light the house at night. They slept and exercised WAY MORE more than we do.
5. Spend Time in Activities That Connect Me With God. In my last blog, I talked about how we connect with God. For me, it’s nature and relationships. When I’m blue, I try to increase these times. I have some friends who listen so well. I call them when I’m blue. Platitudes never flow from their mouths. They’re gifts from God. As for nature… The 10 on the Mellish Meter yesterday and today was a gift from God, just for little ole me… 
In the end, the ‘blue’ times go away. They’re a phase. But they’re a phase I enjoy and benefit from, rather than dread and ignore.
Join the discussion… What do you do when you have a blue day/week/month? btw… if you include any Christian platitudes in your comment, I may reach through the computer and strangle you. (I’m more feisty when I’m blue. LOL)
When I’m blue my tendency is to work harder, do more, fix it, move it, clean it…you get the picture. Surely activity will bounce me out of it. The funny thing is that activity probably got me to this place.
John Ortberg, my favorite guru (sorry Ken
) says to “Try softer.” So…I read more, relax more, take longer walks, treat myself, call a friend, etc. and try to give myself a little grace.
Blue times are gentle reminders to me that the world can go on without my activity and presence and that I serve a God who loves me tremendously.
When I am blue, (which I have been more during this recovery from surgery), besides trying to figure out why I am blue, will try to do something for someone else. As bad as I am feeling surely someone is feeling worse or has it worse and I try to reach out for that type of person. The best way for me not to feel sorry for myself and get out of my pity party is to reach out to others. This seems to take the focus off me and put it on someone or something else.
I agree with all the things you have listed too–except excerise–I am allergic to it!
You’re hilarious – even when you’re blue…
When I’m blue, I like a lot of alone time. I tend to play the piano a lot more, spend more time journaling or working in my yard. And I find myself in the Bible for long periods of time. I normally like quiet when I’m blue, but if I’m in the mood for noise I have a “sad” mix on iTunes. But when I’m ready to be done being blue, or when I need a pick-me-up in a season of being blue – I go play with small kiddos. Cheers me right up.
Miss you, Ken! We had baptisms at my church this week (we meet in a school, so we rent a portable hot tub several times a year for baptizing folks – we call it “Port o Jordan”), and it always makes me think of you and be thankful for the way God used you in my life in High School. And thanks for baptizing me! Praying for Gods grace and wisdom for you and your family.
I miss you and your family, too. Come see us in Atlanta!
Blue will say soft words under their breath … compelled to speak but hoping no one will hear, but some standing by will ask and ask about the soft spoken words so blue will find out who is listening and who really cares.
A gentle poke will wound a blue, but blue will remember and better understand that a poke can be an arrow when you’re completely in the blue.
Blue will see the one sitting to the side not laughing with the crowd. Blue is too weak to help, but blue will remember, and when blue is stronger, blue will sit beside and listen to the soft voice, never seeing tears just quitely sitting close knowing that this blue needs nothing more.
Watching blue will help you see the beauty of vulernable and help you to better understand the uncomeliness of you’re not one of us.
It’s easy not to see blue. But blue can see you.
Other colors look around and through, but if you really want to be seen go find yourself a blue.
The earth turns on it’s axis and moves around the sun, and we have seasons. We relish the changing from Summer to Fall and Winter to Spring, but somehow for our own internal weather it must always be a full sun Summer. There are lessons in the storms of Spring, and reflections on long winter nights, and life is full of beauty and color in the onset of Fall and there is fun in the sun of Summer.
Don’t hold onto blue, but don’t rush it either. There are things to see in blue that won’t appear to you under any other color.
Loved “seeing” this blue perspective, Kirk… thanks for sharing, for helping me see more value in those blue times–and other blue people!!