Chesterton, in Orthodoxy, wrote something to the effect that suicide is a great act of cosmic hatred. His contention, in my own words, was that suicide is a desperate middle finger directed at all the world around you. By killing myself, I am, in my depression and desperation, flipping the bird at the trees, the birds, the stars, food, drink, and men and women, boys and girls, etc. I am saying, forget all of you, you’re not good enough for me, I’m outta here.

I do not agree with Chesterton. I think it is usually the opposite that is the case. A man doesn’t kill himself because he thinks he is too good for the world, but because he thinks the world is too good for him. Or perhaps he thinks the world is too much to bear on his shoulders and in his heart.

However, if Chesterton would have been describing boredom rather than suicide, he would have been right on. The declaration, ‘I’m bored,’ is a direct affront to everything around you, and to God himself. How can we be bored if God is God? How can we be bored in this glorious world with so many glorious gadgets?

In a way it is good that people so often declare themselves to be bored. It demonstrates that they were not made for this world. It shows that the human soul needs something more than gadgets. But, if you, as a Christian, having found that something more, infinitely more, continue to pronounce boredom – you my friend, need to do some examining. Examine God, examine the world around you, and examine yourself.

When someone says, in my presence, that they are bored, my standard response is to say – ‘Actually, you’re just boring.’This world is not boring – you are. Your life is not boring – you are. Your declaration of boredom is a big, Johnny Cash-style middle finger directed at all the world. Hebrews tells us about men of whom the world was not worthy. In your boredom, you declare yourself to be among those men. But you are not among those men. Those men knew nothing of boredom. They were too busy communing with their God and serving him. They were too busy offering sacrifices, becoming sacrifices, and turning the world upside down. They were too busy praying and crying, and laughing and mourning, feasting and fasting.

Have you ever rummaged through a Goodwill or an old antique store? I’ve literally been kicked out of one at closing time. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we are told of ‘the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge’ and the ‘unsearchable riches of Christ.’ They ought to have to kick you out of your meditation and prayer. Boredom doesn’t mean that the riches aren’t there, it only means you are too lazy to search them and stuff your pockets.

God has given us families and friends. They ought to have to kick you out: ‘Hey, quit playing with your kids. It can’t be that fun.’ ‘Hey, quit talking to your wife, how many times do you have to tell her you love her? Get a room.’ ‘Hey, why are you always laughing and joking with your friends, doesn’t that get old?’

I have sometimes been tempted to call my 20 minute drive home from work boring, especially after the time change, since its always dark. Then a few weeks ago I realized that Venus is staring me in the face for the whole drive. How boring, a giant planet, disguised as a star, is leading me to my home on a similar giant planet. And we both happen to be suspended in mid-air as we race around a gigantic flaming ball called the sun. Maybe my drive isn’t so boring.

When I feel bored, I remind myself that it is not the world’s fault. It’s mine. I’m the boring one. And so I must take my eyes off my boring self and put it on the wonders around me – the glory of Christ, the beauties of his creation, and the joys of fellowship. That’s why I don’t say I’m bored.

People our outlandish enough to imagine that heaven itself  is boring. No, but perhaps heaven is bored with you. It would seem justified to think so. But, in fact, heaven is not bored with us at all. Jesus Christ, on the cross, is the only proof we need of that fact. And if God can get excited, if he can care so greatly, for your boring little existence, how excited should you be? Heaven came down to raise you up. Will you hem and haw and sigh along as if there were nothing outside yourself.

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