How to Break Out of a Rut
Mark 10:46-52
A Sermon By Dave Redick
Hwy 20 Church of Christ, Sweet Home, OR
[Please See Author's Note]
One reason a rut is so hard to break out of is that it is secure. It is safe. It's comfortable. Like those easy days when you could count on mom and dad. Oh, we make all kinds of excuses otherwise, but really, there is very little risk in doing the same thing that has always carried you through in the past. From the bottom of our ruts we ask, "why should we give up what is comfortable in exchange for something untried?"
Introduction
Have you ever been stuck in a rut?
A friend and I used to hunt ducks and geese. The lake we hunted was a virtual swamp in wintertime that locals called the "Rat Ranch." (It got tagged with that dubious name because someone living in the area early in the century had attempted to raise wild muskrats for fir. The enterprise flopped.) There was only one road in and out of the Rat Ranch. Early in the season, within a few weeks of opening day, you could drive it in a good pickup with a high center. After the first rains, however, the ruts began to develop. When that happened, you'd better have a four-wheel- drive! (Of course, that's when the hunting got really good, too!)
When you drove off the pavement, headed for the Rat Ranch, you had only one opportunity to pick your ruts. Once your wheels went off into those two trenches, you were in them until you got to the parking lot beside the lake, five miles later. I always thought someone should have put up a sign at that spot that said something like, "Pick your ruts carefully. You're going to be in them for awhile." That's the deal with a rut. You can go forward or backward, but it's hard to get out.
There are ruts in life even for those who don't hunt waterfowl. When we say someone is "in a rut" or that they are "stuck in a rut," we mean that the person is locked into a behavior that, like that road to the Rat Ranch, isn't easily escaped.
A rut can be certain pattern of behavior. Many people at this time of year make New Year's resolutions to get out of their "rut" of sedentary behavior. Like this little poem:
I spent a fortune
On a trampoline,
A stationary bike
And a rowing machine
Complete with gadgets
To read my pulse,
And gadgets to prove
My progress results,
And others to show
The miles I've charted --
But they left off the gadget
To get me started!
If you've done no exercise for many years, you'll probably find you are in a rut that resists change.
There are other "ruts" in life as well. Getting started on a new project can be difficult when you're in a rut of procrastination.
Author James Herriot writes the following about the difficulty of getting out of a rut that kept him from beginning his writing career:
I wrote my books because of a compulsion to make some record of a fascinating era in veterinary practice. I wanted to tell people what it was like to be an animal doctor in the days before penicillin and about the things which made me laugh on my daily rounds, working in conditions which now seem primitive.
This compulsion, however, took a long time to assume any practical form. I seemed to sublimate it by recounting the daily happenings to my wife, finishing invariably with the remark, "I'll put that in my book." There is no doubt this situation would have gone on forever if my wife, at the end of one of my recitals, had not remarked, "Jim, you are never going to write a book." She said it kindly but, nevertheless, I was aghast.
"Whatever do you mean?" I said.
"Well," she replied, "You have been talking about this book for twenty-five years. Remember we celebrated our silver wedding anniversary last week?
I tried to point out that I was not an impulsive type and always liked to take a little time to think things over, but women can be very unreasonable.
She smiled at me. "Don't take it to heart, Jim. You are only one of thousands of people who think they are going to write a book, but they never do it."
"But I will, I will," I protested indignantly.
She smiled again with a touch of sadness. "You must realize that it is impossible. Old vets of fifty don't suddenly start writing books."
That did it. I went straight out, bought a lot of paper and got down to the job.
Some ruts are good, I suppose. Habitual behavior is a great thing if it's the right habit that captivates you.
But more often than not, when we say we're stuck in a rut, we mean that we're having difficulty escaping a wrong behavior.
Someone has said that "A rut is nothing but a grave with the ends kicked out."
Another said, "Many have the right aims in life. They just never get around to pulling the trigger."
Probably all of us get the wheels of our lives stuck in ruts from time to time, so I think that it is a valid question for me to ask on the first day of the new year, the day many look upon as a fresh start, "How Does One Go About Breaking Out of A Rut?"
I'd like to take you to a story in the Bible of a man who was in about the deepest rut anyone could ever experience. Most people of his day considered his condition to be inescapable. His name was Bartimaeus and he was a blind beggar who lived in the ancient city of Jericho. You'll find his story in your Bible at Mark 10:46-52. Please join me there as we read it.
(Read Mark 10:46-52)
Let me take a moment to sketch out for you kind of the rut this man was in. First, he was blind. A blind man couldn't work. He couldn't read or write. There was no brail writing. He couldn't even get around. I know there were no "seeing eye dogs" in that day because dogs were unclean animals to the Jews. Secondly, he was reduced to begging. A man in his condition, unless he had relatives to support him, could do little else but sit near a popular thoroughfare and cry out, "Alms, Alms for the poor!" Thirdly, he was an object of pity. I say that because that was what was behind making a living for him. It was only by soliciting the sympathy of others that he could survive. He probably got pretty good at what he did. Finally, for the most part, his life was reduced to those last four words of verse 46: "sitting by the road." That was his rut. Blind. Begging. Pitied. Sitting by the road. For most people such obstacles would be considered inescapable.
But Bartimaeus got out! The purpose of this message is to show you how he did it and how you can get out of your rut as well.
There are at least seven things Bartimaeus did that day when Jesus passed by his begging position that helped get him out of his rut. (Yes, I know it could be said that it was Jesus who made him well - something he could not do for himself.) Nonetheless, had Bartimaeus not done these seven things and gotten out of his very deep rut, he would never have been healed. The actions Bartimaeus took that day suggest seven things you and I can do when we find our lives so confined that it could be said we are in a rut. As I progress through this message, I will phrase each principle as though I were pointing the Biblical principle right at you personally. I hope you will take it that way, realizing, of course, that it applies to all of us.
The first principle is this:
1. Assume Responsibility For Your Own Life.
Verse 47 says, "And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Notice here that Bartimaeus took the initiative himself to cry out. That is a very important observation, perhaps the most important of all seven.
Do you remember the days of your childhood when, if you were uncomfortable, or afraid, or hurting, you could always count on mom or dad or maybe some relative to take care of you? "You don't have to be afraid," you were reassured. "I'll take care of you."
Then, for most of you, you left your home, an action that was perhaps, at first, a little scary. Could you make it on your own? Would you have to go back to mom and dad in humiliation?
You probably did a lot of growing up in those first couple of years on your own. Perhaps the best definition there is to describe someone who is "grown up" is someone who has assumed responsibility for his or her own life.
One reason a rut is so hard to break out of is that it is secure. It is safe. It's comfortable. Like those easy days when you could count on mom and dad. Oh, we make all kinds of excuses otherwise, but really, there is very little risk in doing the same thing that has always carried you through in the past. From the bottom of our ruts we ask, "why should we give up what is comfortable in exchange for something untried?
Someone as handicapped as Bartimaeus could certainly be subject to such reasoning. He probably wouldn't have to look far to find those who would support him in his thinking. No, he didn't particularly enjoy sitting there beside the road, but at least it was comfortable. It's what he knew. It's what he did well. Being dependent upon others wasn't the most rewarding lifestyle, but at least he knew what he would be doing tomorrow and the next day. Yet he dreamed of more. He dreamed of being able to see.
That day when Jesus passed by, Bartimeaus was suddenly faced with the biggest decision of his life. Would he continue to be dependent upon others where he felt safe, or would he assume responsibility for himself and risk stepping out of his rut? For every one "Bartimaeus" in this world who risks stepping out his a rut, there are probably a thousand who shrink back, unwilling to take the risk.
Think for a moment about whatever rut you may be in. Yes, you can continue to blame your parents or the society or your nationality or your rotten luck in life or your lack of self discipline or the "fat" genes you inherited from your parents or the weather or whatever. You're certainly free to do so. But there is a price for that dubious "freedom." You'll be a rut dweller the rest of your life. You might as well quit dreaming. Leave off hoping. Quit thinking about the day when your ship will come in or someone will reach down and pull you out. Getting out of ruts is only for those who leave off excuse making and assume responsibility for themselves!
Secondly, if you want to get out of your rut, you must
2. Believe You Can Change.
For Bartimaeus, it took some real faith that day to cast aside his cloak, jump up, and move in the direction of the sound of the crowd surrounding Jesus. Verse 52 says, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."
Where does faith come from, anyway? Are we talking about a kind of hopeful "leap in the dark" when we talk of believing you can change? I don't think so.
Faith must be based upon some evidence, otherwise it is nothing more than gullibility. Notice that phrase in verse 47, "And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out..."
That implies some recognition - some prior knowledge. Bartimaeus had probably heard how Jesus could heal. There are descriptions of at least six people who were healed of blindness in the New Testament. There were probably many more. Bart had heard of at least some of these.
How does that apply to you and me? The Bible says, in Rom 10:17, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Hearing such stories produces faith! And that is one of the great uses for the Bible. It is full of stories of people who, with God's help, overcame tremendous odds and escaped deep ruts of existence. Besides that there are many reassuring principles to cheer us on. Not only that, there are contemporary stories that can be told as well. That is one reason we gather to look into God's word and encourage one another Sunday after Sunday.
You don't get that outside these walls very often. Out there most people don't believe you can change. They're busy perfecting the art of blaming others and explaining why change is impossible. They've made so many excuses for themselves and others that anything beyond mediocrity now sounds impossible.
There is sufficient evidence both in the Bible and in experience to assure you that you can break out of your rut. But you must avail yourself to it by believing you can change.
3. Clarify What You Really Need.
Notice in verse 51 what Jesus asked Bartimaeus: "What do you want Me to do for you?"
Why did Jesus ask that? Couldn't he read the man's mind? Didn't He already know? You see, the question wasn't asked for Jesus' benefit. It was asked for Bartimaeus and those who watched on.
Seldom do any of us do anything about the ruts we live in until circumstances force them into our awareness. Even then, we seldom move until we finally get to the place where we set a goal. (Remember the story I told you earlier about the procrastinating author?)
I suspect that some of you have given up new year's resolutions. You've said something to this effect: "I've failed to hit my targets before, so I'll just quit making commitments. That way it won't be obvious if I fail."
I have no criticism of those who aren't into new year's resolutions. The truth is, we shouldn't have to wait for January first to make a resolution or set a goal. But a life with no goals is a life of a rut dweller. If you have no goals, quit dreaming. Leave off hope. Your chance of hitting something you don't aim at is virtually nil. Certainly if you hope to break out of a rut, you have to be willing to clarify what it is you really need and want!
"What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked. Bartimaeus didn't hesitate: "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!"
4. Stop Worrying About What Other People Will Say.
Something that keeps many of us in our ruts is the fear of disapproval from others.
Here's a guy who wants to get started on an exercise program. He figures his best bet is to get into the local exercise gym with a one year membership. So he calls, signs up, and sends in the money. But he never goes. Why? Well, let me tell you what often happens (and when you've heard this you'll understand why those who run such places want their money in advance.)
He probably went down and bought the flashy set of sweats and the shorts with the stripe up the side. He probably got the set of shoes they recommended, paying more for them than he ever paid for three pairs of street shoes. Then the big day came. He got into the car and drove to the gym. If he was brave, he got out and went in. As he walked into the door and looked around, what did he see? He saw ten or twenty trim, lithe, hard bodies twenty years his junior, working out. That's what he saw. Then, as he looked down at his middle aged belly hanging over his pants and considered what he would look like and what might be said under the breaths of every person in the place that watched him, he turned and walked out and never came back, even if it meant he'd lose his full year's fees. It's a common story, told every January all across America.
Bartimaeus didn't have to imagine what others would say if he stepped forward that day. They told him.
Verse 48 says, "And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
You see, he had to get beyond what other people said.
What you and I have to realize is that the vast majority of people making up the human race are nay-sayers. They're pessimists. Not only that, they're fickle. (More about that in a minute.)
You see, since most people who attempt to climb out of a rut end up climbing back in, people around get to believing that is the norm. That is what to expect. Most of them aren't willing to risk encouraging someone who won't be daunted by those odds. Why, they might get laughed at for making rash predictions! So they take the safe route. They conclude you won't make it. They opt for what they figure will be the winning side. And they discourage you.
That's why the Bible warns us about the company we keep. If we hang around and listen to fearful or negative people, we'll become fearful or negative. I find it interesting that in certain key battles in the Old Testament, God sent those who were fearful home, even though it lessened the number of troops.
Oh, yes, I said they are fickle. That is best illustrated in our text. Verse 48 as we've already seen, says "And many were sternly telling him to be quiet."
"Shut up, Bartimaeus! The Rabbi isn't interested in people like you! Besides, what could he do for you? People like you are better off quiet."
Did he listen? No!
Then look what happened. Verse 49 says, "And Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him here.' And they called the blind man, saying to him, 'Take courage, arise! He is calling for you.'"
Talk about fickle! "Shut up, Bartimaeus!" Then, when they saw Jesus was willing to respond, they quickly jumped on the other side of the fence. "Take courage, arise! He is calling you. We've been trying to tell you that you should reach out to Him!"
Do you see why you must stop worrying about what other people will say? What they say so often has no basis in concern for you. They're only saying what they figure is the safest thing to say. If you make it out of your rut, they'll say they knew all along you could do it!
Now I'm not saying we should never get good counsel from godly people. But it you listen to the crowd, you'll stay in your rut! Guaranteed! Stop worrying about what other people will say!
5. Stop Waiting For Ideal Circumstances
The situation on the day Bartimaeus was healed was far from ideal. Verse 46 says that Jesus was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude. What chance did anyone have of getting Jesus' attention in such a crowd? Hardly any. So what chance did a blind man have?
Perhaps Bartimaeus should have waited for a better time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day or next week or next year. Maybe he'd be braver on his birthday or on New Year's day.
That's classic rut dweller language, isn't it?
The following short article appeared back in 1985 in the Los Angeles Times:
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.
"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.
I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event -- such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that it is special.
Waiting for ideal circumstances will leave you in a rut - a rut that could ultimately become a grave. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances.
6. Do Something Bold and Dramatic.
Hey, we're talking about risk here aren't we? It's scary! Probably some of you have already dismissed me and decided to keep to the security of your rut. That's certainly you're choice. But at least be honest about it. Quit blaming others.
Bartimaeus put it all out front for everyone to see. Verse 50 says, "And casting aside his cloak, he jumped up, and came to Jesus."
What a big, bold, open, public stand to take! Listen, he wanted out of his rut!
A young man once sought out an older, successful executive for advice. He found him at his beach front home. After introducing himself, he asked if the older man would counsel him on the ins and outs of business success. At that request, the older man asked the younger to accompany him down to the beach. As they were walking along, suddenly the older man grabbed the younger and drug him out into the surf. In one swift movement, he thrust the man's head under the water and held him down. In panic, the younger man fought the older man's grasp. Finally, when he was about to black out, the older man loosened his grip and let him up. After regaining his breath, the younger man asked what on earth was going on. "When you want success as badly as you wanted that air, you'll become successful."
That's really the issue, isn't it? Sometimes, though we think we want out of our ruts, we really don't - at least we don't want to badly enough.
Are you willing to do something bold? Are you willing to take a stand in front of others?
"I don't think something that drastic is necessary," you say. Maybe not, but have your less drastic measures worked for you? Maybe it's time to get bold! Do something bold and dramatic.
Finally, if you want to break out of a rut,
7. Make Your Move Now.
Perhaps nothing keeps people in ruts longer than the "manana habit."
Bartimaeus had no idea Jesus was coming to his town that day. This day was just like every other to him as he climbed off is sleeping pallet and felt his way down to his familiar spot beside the road. He didn't have time to prepare. It was suddenly just there.
I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't take time to plan. But do something now or this occasion will become just like all the others where you didn't break out of your rut. Make your move now!
Conclusion
I hope you'll consider using these seven principles on that deep rut you have found yourself in.
Let me say one more thing and then I'll be still...
Perhaps the most dangerous rut a person can be in is one that leads away from God. With that in mind, let me close with this haunting poem.
I looked upon a farm one day. That once I used to own;
The barn had fallen to the ground. The fields were overgrown.
The house in which my children grew. Where we had lived for years --
I turned to see it broken down. And brushed aside the tears.
I looked upon my soul one day. To find it too had grown
With thorns and nettles everywhere. The seeds neglect had sown.The years had passed while I had cared For things of lesser worth:
The things of Heaven I let go When minding things of Earth.
To Christ I turned with bitter tears. And cried, "O Lord, forgive!
I haven't much time left for Thee, Not many years to live."
The wasted years forever gone, The days I can't recall;
If I could live those days again. I'd make Him Lord of all.The Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation." If you are in a rut that is leading you away from God, today is the day to get out! Do it now!
Author's Note: The main idea and outline for this message was originally published in an ad I received from Greg Brown for his excellent sermon outline service, called Title, Text, and Truth. Greg is a gracious man and, as this outline indicates, an accomplished sermon crafter. You may contact him at whbc@wp-lag.mindspring.com for information regarding his fine service. [Back]
Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.
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All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.