Greg TeSelle

I’m 53 years old. Some people say that is old, some think it is young. Regardless of my numerical age, my physical body, which I have abused in more ways than one, is not nearly as flexible as it once was.

As I get older, my body doesn’t stretch as well, nor does it bend like it used to. It just grows stiffer. I knew these days were coming. I’ve had over 20 orthopedic surgeries in my life, so all this inflexibility, stiffness, and pain was predictable. I stand at my desk all day just to keep my joints moving and the blood pumping.

One thing I didn’t predict however, is that my mind is also getting slightly stiffer. I’ve found myself dismissing new concepts and ideas relatively quickly without much thought or investigation. I was becoming somewhat unwilling to listen to new data or new information about topics across many spectrums. Sadly, my social convictions, beliefs, and “bent” were becoming less flexible over the years, and I was unknowingly becoming “set in my ways”.

But, the good news is this “stiff mindedness” is not inevitable. I also think it is reversible.

Don’t get me wrong here. Stay true to the foundational principles of The Gospel. Don’t waver on the truths and promises of God. At the same time continue to “move your mind”. Keep it loose. Listen, read, converse, dialogue, write, pray, watch, challenge and stretch your mind regularly.

Just because my body is getting stiffer, doesn’t mean my mind has to as well. There are always new things to learn and new insights to acquire.

I will probably end up in a wheel chair relatively soon, buy my mind will be running as fast as ever!

One of the reasons I took an extended break from social media and writing, is because I found myself everywhere, except where I actually was. Let me explain.

I would spend more time reading how screwed up our society and world is, rather than actually help out my neighbors.

I would keep track of what my friends and their families were doing, but ignore my own family at times.

And possibly the most dangerous thing I noticed about myself – the more “bad” news I read about others, the better I felt about myself. Pride was creeping in.

For the record, I don’t think the internet or social media is evil, I was just using it incorrectly. I needed a break.

I needed to be present with my people, and confess to my God.

So I took a break. A long break. There is rarely a quick fix for a “large” issue. Ask any doctor, or dietician. Ask any mechanic, or teacher. Big changes require significant time.

My timeline. Five years.

“Technology has robbed us of ordinary transition spaces and opportunities. As soon as there is a down moment, everyone is back on their phones.” – John Eldridge

I’ve not written anything on my blog for the last five years. It was August 16, 2016 that I decided to take a major break from social media, my blog, and most things online. You’ll need to read my last entry from five years ago to understand some of my reasoning.

My “experiment” is now over, and I’ll be consistently writing on my blog. I won’t be posting much of it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, so if you’d like to read some of my thoughts and ideas, you can either subscribe to my blog, or just visit it whenever you’re bored.

FYI, most of my posts will be short (200 words or less) and very much like diary entries.

I’m hoping to encourage you through my thoughts as I love God, and give Him away.

-GT

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“… and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life:  You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”  – 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

I find living this out to be difficult in today’s world. We are bombarded with the message that it is all about us… that we have to speak up for what we want… we have to take what we deserve… that we are the center of the universe… and only good things should come our way.

This is so contrary to the gospel… and those of us who are God’s children should know better.

Since we moved back to Chicagoland in 2012, I have intentionally been a part of small groups of committed believers who are not trying to impress anyone with their great church complex or ministry… whose main ambition is to lead a quiet life for the glory of God.

So… I’m going “quiet”.  See you in about 5 years.

I have come across people in my life who have immediately caught my attention.  Not because they were front and center or large and in charge… but because they were in the background, doing what was needed… and doing it with a attitude that made me pay attention.

And whenever I pressed further, I consistently found that these people were not only grounded in a faith in Jesus… but a faith that was at the forefront of everything they did.

One of my personal objectives is to let God become so centered in my life… that when people look at me they see something intangible… something they don’t understand… something that makes them ask “what is it about you?”

I know it can be done, because I see it in these people.

They live a quiet life.  They pretty much stay to themselves as they go about their day and make their living.  These people have “won the respect of those who are not believers” by living their lives this way.

I wish I was further along the path of achieving my objective than I am, but I am getting closer.

Jesus’ entire life was to be a template for us of how we should live ours.  Not necessarily in the spotlight……but with the great humility, respect, and care for those who will cross our path.

We must lead as Jesus leads.

We must become beacons whose quiet and yet brilliant light shine bright in this dark world… and then lead others to the source of the light.

This is our only mission on this earth.

My first step toward a quiet life… don’t talk so much.  #shutup