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Discipline

n.

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3.

a. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
b. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
c. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.

4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

-  Dictionary.com

This past weekend marked the end of my vacation in California. And it was also the first time since… 2005 (?) that I’d been back to my home church where I grew from my elementary school years through high school… 

So the message that Pastor Eddie delivered was on corporate discipline . I guess it was the final segment on a series on discipline .

Anyway, long story short, I think God’s been trying to speak discipline back into my life.

And by discipline, I mean it in the sense of the first definition above. (even though, when I search for “discipline” on Biblegateway, the results seem to be mostly of the fourth type!)

While I’m not advocating a strict, scheduled lifestyle marked by minute-by-minute calendars and to-do lists, I think my life in the past year has been marked by a severe decline in discipline that had kept me on the right path.

Building on my car analogy , I’ve come to realize that it’s too easy to let the dust build. In fact, right after washing and applying a fresh coat of wax to my car, I went for a cruise up to the Northridge valley area to seek out my aforementioned “next nostalgic moment”   (which is another upcoming post) . When I got home, even though it was a perfectly clear day, there was already a fine coat of dust on the car in addition to other streaks and stains from impact with insects, etc. And the long story short again is that life isn’t clean and simple, and it’s much easier to wipe/dust quickly often to keep the car clean rather than scrub thoroughly occasionally. Just one example would be the rims/wheels. Brake dust buildup sometimes is nearly impossible to get off without getting special chemical cleansers and even then might require strenuous scrubbing.

At the beginning of this year, I was reflecting on the past year… and I called 2005 “The Year of the Blur” . Reading back on what I wrote half a year ago, I realize that even the prayer that I wanted to cling to during 2006… somewhere along the way… it escaped me.

And in the process, I’ve let the dust, dirt and grime build up.

And, surprise surprise, a lot of life is like that.

Running the Christian race isn’t about maintaining the status quo… but always growing and always learning and always being stretched.

I guess we run into trouble when we think that we can just maintain the status quo… while doing nothing.

Once upon a time, I was a second degree black belt. I got there through extensive training and discipline . Now, not too many years later, I can barely touch my toes… while I still have my “credentials”… can I really still claim to be a black belt?

Once upon a time, I was the defensive player on my soccer team roaming the field as sweeper, taking both corner kicks and goal kicks, and stopping opposing players that were even twice my size. I played every minute of every game even when I wasn’t able to attend any practices. Today, I wonder if I’d survive 15 minutes on the field.

Once upon a time, I swam like a fish and even got a few medals and ribbons in competitive swimming. Even a few years ago, throughout college, I swam 1.25 miles per session… A few weeks ago, I tried swimming laps again and had to stop after a dozen or so.

Once upon a time, I spoke Spanish like a Mexican. Today, I’m getting by trying to relearn old vocabulary and pick up new vocabulary. But I’ll never speak as well as I did back then.

Once upon a time, I played as first clarinet in high school band/orchestra as well as second oboe (of two! haha =P) in advanced orchestra. Ooh. I once could play music and contribute to creating beautiful symphonies of sound. Now, years later, I bet I could barely squawk out a few notes on these instruments.

Once upon a time, I used to memorize double-digit page piano pieces and perform before panic-inducingly-large audiences without making a mistake. Today, I can barely plunk out “Mary had a little lamb” on the piano. (And this is probably one of the greatest regrets that my parents warned me about… “You’ll regret quitting piano…” “No, I won’t”… Yes I do…)

Each anecdote tells the same story. Without practice and continual improvement, all things deteriorate. Even our Christian lives.

Physical fitness. Spiritual fitness. Emotional fitness. All kinds of fitness.

I think they’re all pretty related.

When any aspect of one’s life is impacted adversely, there tends to be a negative effect that ripples across all facets of one’s existence.

I once thought that I was On the road…   to influence, fitness… and again. =)

I think I only got the “again” part down. Influence and fitness? They seem to be ephemeral illusions that seem to escape me.

In his epistles, Paul wrote:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV

Have I forgotten that I’m running a race? That this isn’t a 100m dash but that it’s a lifelong marathon? And yet, I want to win this marathon. I want to be able to say that I fought the good fight and that I finished . But to do so, I need to discipline myself as well as live a life of discipline.

But more than trusting myself and in my own ability to live a life marked by discipline, I think I want to let go of all that is me and be open to God’s moving, teaching, and disciplining in my life…

He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge–the LORD–knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD , and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. – Psalm 94:10-15 ESV

The Bible is funny sometimes. And God has a sense of humor… Ok, maybe I’m just being childish… but look! The Bible says “stupid”! Ooh! =)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. – Proverbs 12:1 ESV

To love discipline and knowledge. To desire to be disciplined and receive necessary rebuke in order to be guided towards a more righteous life. (I don’t want to be stupid!)

Even though I’m traveling and far from home… (I’m in Santo Domingo in the bottom right corner of the map again…)

I can and must  set aside time to exercise both my spiritual and physical bodies. And I intend to try again! =) But only by His grace. Can’t hope to do so on my own strength.

Discipline. It’s not easy nor is it pleasant. But then again, neither is this life supposed to be. And yet, through it all, there is joy in the certainty that there’s more to life in Christ than everything on this earth!