August 9
When It Gets Old
The commitment felt good when we first accepted it. Months later, the same task can seem dull and inconvenient. We remember the early enthusiasm and wonder whether losing it means something is wrong. Perhaps we need a different service job. Perhaps we are simply discovering what a promise feels like after the pleasure of making it has worn off.
Boredom is worth noticing without letting it make every decision. A recurring task may still serve a real need, even when it no longer gives us much excitement. We can ask for help, discuss rotation, or acknowledge that our circumstances have changed. Those conversations differ from quietly disappearing because the feeling changed. Faithfulness has room for honest adjustment. It also has room for an unremarkable evening when we do what we agreed to do and leave without a new insight.
What is the difference between a commitment that needs changing and a feeling I can live through?
An ordinary evening can still be a kept promise.
For the A.A. nerds: Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Twelve.