From Russia with blogs | habit

by Vadim Hurin

It’s very easy to spot tourists in Petersburg, Russia. They’re the ones walking around with cameras, looking and smiling at everything and everyone they pass. They like everything from buildings to monuments.

Citizens behave quite differently. They walk around with blinders on, looking only immediately ahead of themselves. They’re always in a hurry, disregarding the monuments and everything else around them. They’re used to the city they live in, with all its monuments and embankments. They’re no longer amazed by it, because it holds nothing new for them anymore. It’s frustrating when a street is blocked off due to construction and they have to take the long way around. Citizens also do not always understand tourists. What are you so happy about? If only you had our lives. You’re on vacation; we live here, and you couldn’t possibly understand our problems.

There is a third category of people living there. These people live in Petersburg, yet still find joy and wonder in their everyday lives. These people value the beauty of the monuments and the architecture that can be admired on a daily basis. They know and love their town and are ready to reiterate its history as well as point out the landmarks to visitors.

In my opinion, Christians also fall into these three categories. The newly converted find everything in Christianity exciting. They find joy and wonder in God’s revelations. They are ready to be surprised by promises in the Bible. They take their time in order to see the true beauty and not to miss anything.

Other Christians “know” everything about Christianity. They’re even ready to tell God after which prayer He should visit their service. There is nothing that will astonish them anymore. They compare testimonies and revelations and try to arrange them on a spiritual scale. Newly converted believers irritate them because they do not know all the rules, make mistakes, and do not ask the wise ones for help. These people don’t hesitate to tell everyone how long they’ve been attending church and how many good deeds they have done.

Yet there is still another group of believers. These people never grow tired of wondering at God’s revelations. Time has not made these people rigid and cynical. They’re ready to spend their time with newcomers that don’t know a lot. These people have stayed true to their first love.

So what makes these people different? Why do these Christians burning with love for God turn into washed-out cynics that cannot be touched by anything? I believe the reason is habit. It’s no wonder people say a habit is like second nature. We create our own habits. Therefore, what kind of habits you develop is entirely up to you.

Writer: Captain Vadim Khurin was born into a family of circus artists. He joined The Salvation Army in 1995 and is now an officer serving in St. Petersburg, Russia. He loves music, sports, reading and learning. He has a beautiful wife - Inna - and three children. He likes to ask hard questions and find different ways of helping people get back their wholeness and integrity.

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