10 Habits Of Life Uncurled

Every time you do something that comes from your need for acceptance, affirmation, or affection…you know you are not with God. ~Henri J.M. Nouwen

The woman gripped her grocery cart and muttered disgust as I passed. The aisle was crowded and it was clear I had steered through an opening without waiting my turn. My first impulse was to give her a hug–my day was going fine. But I’ve been in that muttering place, when the slightest offense left me reeling.

Last week we looked at the 10 habits of the self-absorbed. A wood shaving describes our sin nature–curled into itself, protecting the deep wound of disconnection from our Creator. The topic is a timely one. Politicians and preachers alike applaud the individualistic orientation exemplified in Ayn Rand’s paean to narcissism, Atlas Shrugged. Has it ever been so socially acceptable to be selfish?

But selfish is not what we were made to be. A reader’s recent comment rings true:

…the way I rid myself of self-centeredness is not to somehow discipline myself in difficult, tempting situations; but rather to allow God to “crowd out” pride with His love. 

Beautiful–love crowding out pride.

This is every person’s problem: we don’t know how deeply we are loved. We don’t feel welcome, we don’t feel blessed, we sense we are vulnerable and threatened, so life is reduced to strategic self-defense. We don’t understand that we are wired to respond to Love with love, and to allow our gracious, other-centered Savior to uncurl our souls.

But we must practice the habits of grace if we would resist the pull inward.

10 Habits of Life Uncurled:

• Take the worst seat, the last place in line.
• Find quiet ways to serve those who can’t repay.
• Argue an issue from the opposing point of view.
• Give the attention you crave to somebody else.
• Speak ten grateful words for every one grumble.
• Let others talk–be silent and listen.
• Live open-handed, releasing control.
• Say often and out loud, “I could be wrong.”
• Treat with respect the NO of another.
• Journal the feelings you are tempted to avoid.

What habits help your soul uncurl? 

Image credit flickr-milomingo