Published on May 27, 2007 at 6:49 PMWhat is Being BORED??
This Article was published in Reflections of a 17 year old girl on her way to becoming a Woman of God
Bored… what is bored?? That is one of the many questions I hate being asked. It just is not the expectation that I want people to think of me. I don’t ever think I am bored. I am too busy.
I went to work with my dad as the PO was having its national food drive to help support local outreach ministries. Before my dad goes out to deliver mail he has to case it according to his route and addresses, while we were there many co-workers of his asked us the “are you bored” question.
We got there around 7:20am, and he started casing his mail. Of which he had a ton… because the PO didn’t give them hardly any on Fri, but slammed them on Sat. Not really logical. Anyway, Rachel, Eric and I all sat around and watched Dad case his mail. While we were sitting there quietly and patiently. I don’t know how many times but we were asked, “are you bored?”, enough.
Most kids nowadays would probably have said, “YES!! I am bored. Isn’t there anything ELSE to do??” but not us. We have been taught the meaning of work, obedience and patience. We didn’t ask if we could go play outside or play a video game or anything like that. We just sat there for 2 hours watching Dad sort and case mail.
We were told that we couldn’t help, which we would have loved to do. We were told that we had to wait til he was done. We did it patiently and obediently. We didn’t have any attitudes. Though we were all very tired, and could have had many attitudes.
We were not bored. We were happy that we got the privilege of coming with Dad to help him in his work. Eric was so happy that he got to come to work with Dad that I don’t even think he realized he sat there for that long. He just watched Dad and took in all that he did.
Then we went out and walked all around town, b/c you aren’t allowed in the Postal trucks for security reasons. So we carried the bagged goods, and walked and walked and walked. We walked a good 7 or 8 mi. We did it with a happy heart too. Although, we were very tired as we are not accustomed to walking that much in one time and carrying the bags of food. See, we had to carry the bags of food around until we got to the truck. What my Dad does is parks the truck and then walks his relay. Then he goes back to the truck and drives to another point and walks his relay. So its not like we got to get one bag and put it in the truck. We had to carry bags, sometimes, 5 blocks or more.
So what is bored?? My definition… Is idleness. That is what I believe to be the true definition of being bored.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says “Bored: Perforated by an auger or other turning instrument: made hollow.” It doesn’t even had Bored in it. At least what people believe is the meaning of bored.
Back in the 1800’s. there was no such thing as bored. You were always busy, Whether it was being at home taking care of it, or in the stables with your animals, or at your uncle’s shop learning to become an apprentice. People were never bored.
When you are bored, is when you have nothing to do and you complain about it. That is being bored.
You can have nothing to do and not complain about it and be happy and wait for something to come for you to do, and not be bored.
We could do nothing while Dad was casing mail. You aren’t allowed to touch the mail if you aren’t an employee, so we couldn’t help him sort it. But we had a good attitude and were patient in waiting for him to get done. We were not bored.
We in the Dixon family don’t have time to be bored. We are always working, or teaching each other. That is something that homeschooling and staying at home has taught us. There is ALWAYS something for you to do. Whether its cleaning up the living room, doing the dishes, helping with the Littles, mowing the lawn, tilling the garden, caring for the animals, doing school. Anything. There is no time to be bored, when you are doing what is right and holy.
Ecclesiastes 10:18 says, “If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle the house leaks.” There is always work to be done. Whether you are doing God’s work or man’s work. You should never be idle or bored.
If you have a good attitude you will never be bored because you will never be complaining about not having something to do. If you have a good work ethic you will never be bored, because you will find something constructive to do with your time if you find you are out of something to do. If you have those two qualities you will find that you are always busy doing something that is useful to you and your family and the kingdom of God.
Being bored is not an expectation that I want people to have of me. Worldly people would expect me to be bored, if they don’t know me. I don’t want to fill that expectation. I want to have a great attitude if I don’t have anything to do.
Being bored is not for me, because the Bible tells me so.
Love...
Thanks for stopping by "Daily" at the "Planet"!!
©AmandaDixon2007
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May 27, 2007 at 7:34 PM...Untitled Comment
 Commented by quietcajun
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I read this entry just as my 11 yods was complaining about being BORED!
In his defense, I think he was a bit justified though (although I totally agreed with your article!)...
He stepped on a screw yesterday and has to sit quietly allllll day. That's hard for an 11 year old active boy... especially since the girls are watching Tales from Avonlea (which he is not fond of!) and he knows the other boys and his dad are in the garage working on installing a new stereo in the truck (which he would much rather do)
I think I will set a chair up for him where he can at least watch his Daddy!
What sweet, patient children you all are! A godly example to be sure!
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May 28, 2007 at 7:28 PM...Untitled Comment
 Commented by totustuus
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You're totally right!!! "Bored" isn't even supposed to be in our vocabulary in our house!! There is ALWAYS something constructive that can be done.
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May 30, 2007 at 5:50 AM...bored
 Commented by Jimmie
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I like this entry! And your blog is a fun theme! :-)
I'm not usually bored either. I have a real fear of BEING bored, and so when I travel, I always take books, crossword puzzles, crossstitch kits, etc. When I'm home, there is no opportunity to be bored, but sometimes away from home and many tasks, I do feel bored. That's why I always take work/play along with me.
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June 10, 2007 at 3:36 PM...:)
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