It's a Habit

Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters

a poem by Portia Nelson, published in her book

There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

Chapter I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I fall in.

I am lost ... I am helpless.

It isn't my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place.

But, it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but,

my eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

Chapter IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

The guest pastor at my church, Elevation, used this poem as a sermon illustration. How many of us can claim this autobiography as our own? I know I can, currently I am stuck in chapter 3, but I hope that will be changing soon. This poem is very diverse in that it can not only apply to our own personal lives, but it can apply to things like our relationships, our jobs, our finances, even the church! That's on of the things I love about Elevation Church. It's in chapter 5, they have seen that what the church has always done doesn't mean it will continue to work today as generations change. That is the whole reason the book of Acts is called God's Unfinished book. The church is still being built, and becoming. The book of Acts is God's Holy Spirit with us, and that it is still with us empowering us to continue the work of God, and sometimes that empowerment leads us down a different street so that we can meet new people and encounter different things.

Wherever we are at in this autobiography, don't allow those pot holes to get you, find a different street! Get away from the things that pull you down and away. It's all about creating a new groove that will better serve us. The potholes can be so deadly, and self destructive; no doubt I've walked away with a few scars.

Kick the habit!