I grew up in an household where saying we were ‘bored’ was tantamount to swearing. I think my Mum took it as a personal affront against her strongly held belief that children with three square meals a day and enough siblings to deafen and demolish Jericho couldn’t possibly lack anything, let alone be *&^%$ (bored)

The thing is, I often hear children saying (that word) today and yet they have never had more to DO! DS’s, Wii games, computers of all shapes and sizes, more games in more shops, ebay, facebook and all sorts of other things fight for the attention of the languid, lolloping, loper. (None of the above are yet in my house… and long may it continue to be so, though I fear my days of wii-less-ness are numbered!!)

But perhaps children soon come to the end of their interest in such things as their ‘intrigue fatigue’ wanes and they long for something that stimulates and satisfies?

I am still very much a child. I am not childish (hopefully) but very child-like. (Definitely.) I find great pleasure in the smallest things. Discipline gives me a real kick. Weird I know. For example, I recently heard about someone who fasts twice a year for 40 whole entire days. I KNOW. Its true.

I have never done more than 24 hours. So, my first thought was, Yippee! More is possible. You will be pleased to know that I have not launched headlong into a month of lunchlessness. Although I am trying for 48 hours to go without to see what God does and says to me. It’s fun. Perhaps it shouldn’t be? But right now, (hour 18) it is.

Another thing that is really impacting me is this Bible reading lark. Seriously boys and girls. Its PROPERLY hard work, but it is great too. Admittedly I am only in the last throes of Leviticus (so am officially behind target) but I press on towards the goal. I will get there! Watch this rapidly decreasing space!

Another discipline I love is prayer. (Did I miss my calling to be a Nun??) I just love sitting with God and asking Him stuff and waiting for His reply. We really like hanging out together and I think He enjoys telling me things too.

I don’t have a lot of time for boredom. I never have five minutes that isn’t full of something. I choose to ‘soak’ with God in the gaps I create in my life, so I am rarely doing nothing. You may think I am a dull as ditchwater. You are, of course, entitled to your opinon.

But as GK Chesterton said “Is ditchwater dull? Naturalists with microscopes have told me that it teems with quiet fun.”

I am having a happy day of quiet fun… and I don’t think I smell quite so dubious as ditchwater.