Enthusiasm

With advances in technology, access to fundamental needs are, for many, more accessible than in years past. Preparing dinner is no longer an all-day commitment, doing laundry no longer requires manual labor, individual gardens are rare and are almost never used as a single source of nourishment. The time once required for life sustaining tasks has largely diminished, lending time to new and exciting adventures.

As a result, society has turned its attention to finding new ways of spending time, often in the form of entertainment. Consequently, individuals are showered with appeals for attention. Heads are easily turned with promises of something newer, faster, or better and so, everything must become newer, faster, and better. In one sense, time accelerates as the time required for something to become “outdated” decreases.

One of my student musicians informed me that he needs to change something in his song (rhythm, beat, etc.) every 15 seconds in order to hold the attention of an audience. We get bored of things that are initially exciting to us in 15 seconds!

I have noticed the excitement of new beginnings in my own life. Nights that I begin a new research project, I can hardly sleep. My mind races through the night with ideas for making the project more and more interesting. Then, as the weeks progress, enthusiasm fades and I find the task dull and difficult to complete.

Enthusiasm is not bad; in fact, endurance is enhanced through enthusiasm. Enthusiasm without endurance, however, is nearly floccinaucinihilipilificatious, just like that word (thanks Kristie).

Endurance

Many definitions of endurance focus on the negativity involved, suggesting that one must experience pain, sorrow, or discomfort of some kind in order to endure. I find this definition more fitting: to endure is “to remain set in purpose.¹” Thus, one endures by holding constant to their initial goal, standard, or commitment. Sure, this often includes some form of discomfort, but in many cases, endurance can be the tool for alleviating suffering. Endurance increases perspective and, when combined with enthusiastic optimism, may even bring joy.

Consider the times I allow the monotonous work of a project to distract me from my ultimate goal. By simply reminding myself of the reason I began the study, I am often able to renew my initial excitement because I am refocused on its purpose. This renewed excitement decreases much of the discomfort that accompanies repetitious labor.

I have loved one particular letter written by President Lincoln during his time in office. His wife’s nephew was enrolled in a military school and was not performing well. After failing a few of his classes, he was ready to choose a different career. With Mary’s encouragement, Abraham decided to write him a letter saying, “Allow me to assure you it is a perfect certainty that you will, very soon, feel better – quite happy – if you only stick to the resolution you have taken to procure [an] education… Adhere to your purpose and you will soon feel as well as you ever did. On the contrary, if you falter, and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and will regret it all your life.”

This advice is particularly meaningful when we realize that Abraham himself had experienced a rather debilitating bout of depression during his own educational journey.

Yes, life can be hard, but in finding and holding on to our original purpose, we will discover enthusiasm in even the most mundane of our responsibilities. So, let us find value in endurance, for “we count them happy which endure” (James 5:11).

Points to Ponder

Is there a task in my life for which I have lost enthusiasm?

What benefits will follow endurance in this area?

Is endurance in this area simply about completing the task, or is it beneficial to who I want to become?