AN ADAGE A DAY ◽ ENCOURAGEMENT
Creatures of Habit
by Carole Gilbert
We are all creatures of habit, whether we want to admit it or not. This idiom began all the way back in the eighteenth century. It is used for someone who has a daily routine and doesn’t want it to change. You may think you are not a creature of habit, but I bet there are some things that you do at the same time in the same way every time you do them. I know I have some of these habits. But I do enjoy getting out of my daily grind to head off on a new adventure. I am challenged by a bump in the road. And I love to set sail, venture in uncharted territory, even go on a wild goose chase. But then I’m headed back to being a creature of habit.
One fun story of our travels where we hit the road and took the plunge was a ski trip to New Mexico with our young teenage kids. This trip wasn’t out of our habitual travels; but a little over halfway there, we did step out of our habitual way.
Our oldest son asked if he could sit up front and read the map to help navigate his dad. This was long before cell phones and GPS. He reassured me he knew how to read a map. So, to the back of the suburban I went. It was nice sitting in the back not doing anything. I took a nap and enjoyed the scenery; but then later, I started to think that we should’ve passed this or that by now. I didn’t remember ever going this way before. I finally asked my husband and son where we were.
My son hesitated to answer, and my husband said, “Wherever Ryan’s taking us.”
As we started looking closer at our whereabouts, we realized somewhere a couple of hours before, we took a wrong turn. All we could do was laugh and enjoy our three to four hours out of the way. But this happy accident gave us the opportunity to see an old volcano! My husband and son felt so bad about the mistake that they stopped on the side of the road, jumped the fence, and found an oversized volcanic rock to add to our rock collection at home. That became a favorite “spur of the moment” travel memory. Then it was back to being ski-trip creatures of habit.
So, what are my habits? I get up about the same time every morning. I eat about the same things for breakfast, lunch, and supper. My husband and I mainly eat the same meats and vegetables. We watch the same things on television each night and then go to bed at the same time. But we do step out and go to church and have fellowships. Sound boring? It’s really not. Did you know, that’s the way God made us. There are several verses that refer to God creating us for habitual living and worship.
I really like Deuteronomy 6:6-7. It sounds similar to my routine.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Our favorite part of our daily living is talking and sharing about God and His word. It’s become a habit. And it’s a good thing. So, I don’t mind being a creature of habit. It’s a God thing. And that’s the gospel truth.