When I get stirred up it’s usually in negative ways like annoyance or anger. And I think that’s probably the typical connotation in people’s minds when expressing the idea of being stirred up; if you look up the definition, that’s the basic idea: to cause or provoke trouble or controversy, or to disturb.

As we finished reading Hebrews last time, I’ve been meditating on 10:24 for a while now, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…”

At first, I had been reflecting on how beautiful of a sentiment that is, how poetic it feels to me. Imagining the interactions and relational dynamics of person to person and people to people where we actually move others to love and service to each other is a beautiful reality.

I think about my reality and I don’t know if I can say that I stir up others to love and good works. I wonder, “Have I ever?”

As I really meditated on it, it struck me that on my best days, when I am peak-Eric, I top out at pleasant, well-mannered, not annoyed or angered, and maybe even helpful. Do I stir people up to love and good works?

(…)

Am I living a fruitful life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

(… kind of, sometimes?)

That’s what I’m trying to seek in life now. When I get stirred up, Holy Spirit, help me to be stirred up with love and good works. And help me to stir up others into love and good works.

Let’s do this. Let’s actually live this.