Comfort Zone

Ok.  These last few days have been gross and way too hot outside for my liking.  I was outside watering my flowers for all of 2 minutes this past weekend before I started to sweat, but I was thankfully able to retreat into my air conditioned home.  Funny...probably a few months ago I would have said it was way too cold outside for my comfort.

Temperatures in the mid-60's to mid-70's are typically absolute perfection in my book.  Of course, if I'm going out for a run in the evening, I prefer it to be below 65.  If I'm sitting on my back patio, please make it in the 70's with a slight breeze.  But if I'm on the beach, I will be happier if it's in the 80's...but not too much hotter, or I might sweat.  *gasp*  Oh, and then it has to be chilly in my room in order for me to sleep, but I can't actually fall asleep if my feet are cold.  And don't even get me started on humidity levels. 

Yes, I have a very small window when it comes to my personal temperature comfort zone.

It makes me wonder...how many of us tend to have a pretty small window when it comes to being comfortable?  I'm not talking temperature-wise.  I'm talking about life in general.  Our own personal comfort zones.  The safe little air conditioned bubbles we've built around ourselves.  Relationally.  Spiritually. 

We don't want to be pushed too far outside of what we're used to.  We don't want to be asked to take a step outside of our normal routine.  If things get too heated or uncomfortable, we'll probably be searching for a way to back out and retreat to safety.  Even if it's something that's downright good for us, we'll weigh the pros and cons and try to figure out if it's worth enduring the heat.  And we certainly can't be expected to sweat it out for too long.

Don't ask us to give too much.  Don't ask for too much of our time.  Don't ask us to go out of our way to help someone.  Don't ask us to invest too much energy into building real relationships.  Don't think that we'll forgive if we've been hurt.  It's risking too much to give you a second chance.  We'll never be able to let that grudge go.  And we'll surely never forget.

Above all else, don't ask us to step out in faith and try something new...even if we know God is calling us to take action and opening doors of opportunity.  Don't expect us to surrender control.  Trust God?  Seriously?  That's way too scary. 

If I'm completely honest, I don't know that I'll ever truly be "thankful" for the uncomfortable hazy, hot, and humid weather, but I'm really going to try not to complain...well, not too much at least.  On the flip side, I can honestly say that when I've actually trusted God and stepped out of my little air conditioned self-absorbed bubble, it's not always comfortable, but it's most definitely always worth it.  It's not easy, and I still tend to shy away from the uncomfortable more often than not.  But when I've worked through those intimidating, confusing, hard, or downright painful times with God, I've always come out better and stronger for it.  It's in those times that I've come to realize how truly thankful I am for the uncomfortable zone.