Boredom's Spirituality
It’s human nature. We all get bored from time to time. Studies suggest that in nearly one-third of our days we experience some effects of boredom. And while it’s a universal phenomenon, it is a uniquely individual feeling. What leaves me feeling bored may be exactly the kind of things that excites the next person. And while a constant feeling of boredom can lead to mental health concerns, occasional boredom isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can be a natural invitation to rest and re-create in some form.
When we are bored, we may feel irritable, anxious, and restless. We’re quick to search for something to entertain us or to get us out of our funk. But before we jump too quickly to escape these flatlands of the soul, let’s consider the possibility that boredom may be an opportunity to simply pause, rest, and reset. When we’re bored, we unattach ourselves from all that keeps us busy, distracted, overstimulated, entertained, or in charge. In the throes of boredom even the ordinary distractions sound like so much blah, blah, blah. And what I’m left with is nothing but myself with which to contend.
In this dimensionless landscape, it feels like the heart, mind, and spirit have co-conspired to get us alone with ourselves to bring us to ground zero where all we can do is rest and wait, even if it’s only for a few minutes or hours. Boredom tends to pass quickly, but it does give pause to consider what brings us to such a state.
When we’re listening to a dry lecture, or someone droning on about a particular subject, we may identify feelings of boredom related to that subject. The lack of resonance with a particular subject or an environment opens us to consider what it is that energizes us, and what are the things that leave us dry and uninspired? But at times, boredom just comes upon us for seemingly no reason at all. This discernment in boredom may give us clues as to how we have structured life and whether adjustments need to be made. Or perhaps we are just learning to wait on God with patience.
Is there a spirituality in boredom? Of course, because the Divine exists in all of life and nothing can separate us from God, not even our days of boredom. Stretches of boredom, whether from monotonous routines, weariness from work, or uninspiring assigned duties, ask that we stop, rest, and return to our inner being.
This is the prayer Paul penned to a group of Christians in the 1st Century about the importance of that inner being: “I pray that out of [Christ’s] glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being... And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:16-18 NIV).
Returning to that inner cave of the heart we discover the dwelling place of the soul and the Divine presence of God where we explore aspects of a faith filled with riches, strength, power, depth, and the endless love and grace found in knowing Jesus, grace enough to see us through those boring spells of life. And that sounds anything but boring to me when I stop to welcome it as a guest in the storehouse of human experiences that lead me to know God dwelling within.
For your own reflection: Where and when do you typically run into that sense of boredom in your life? If your boredom had a voice, what would it be saying to you? And how would you respond to that voice? Is there a Divine invitation to consider as you reflect on that boredom within?
