Did you know that it’s possible to hypnotise a frog by putting it on its back and gently stroking its belly? Being so relaxed and comfortable allows the frog to become disconnected from the real world and zone out.

I wonder. Have you ever been hypnotised by your own comfort?

I know I have. Lockdown living, while filled with many challenges, afforded me the opportunity to serve, well, me. When it’s the law to stay home, to distance yourself form others and to get comfortable in your own bubble, it’s very hard to re-enter reality when that bubble is popped.

Suddenly, serving in [insert ministry/volunteer role here] doesn’t seem so appealing. The setting up, the planning, the work, the hours, those that take you for granted, those that undermine your efforts, those that refuse to roll up their own sleeves and show up to share the load… and without warning we find ourselves choosing to have a little lie down and stroke our bellies because, well, it feels nice and is way more comfortable.

But that’s not faithful living. Peter writes that we each have “received a gift in order to serve others” and that we “should use it faithfully” (1 Peter 4:10 NiRV).

Serving one another is very different from disconnecting from one another. When we’re focussed on fulfilling our desires and hypnotised by chasing comfort we cease to see things as they really are. We cease to hear the needs of those around us. We cease to connect with people as we approach them more like projects. We cease to use the gifts God has given us to serve. We cease to be faithful. We’ve zoned out and become hypnotised.

As Christians, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to serve one another in love, to use the gifts, skills and talents we’ve been blessed with to go into the world and make a positive impact for Jesus. Friend, we can’t do that while reclining and rubbing our bellies.