Shaken, Not Stirred

Recognize James Bond's martini instructions? Martinis are conspicuous by their absence from my experience, so I'm not exactly sure what possible difference it could make. Stirring supposedly "bruises" the gin, whatever that means, but it did speak to me about people's reactions to disaster, tragedy, and crisis.
Terrorism and tornadoes. Hurricanes and earthquakes and economies, Oh My! In the aftermath, people turn to religion seeking comfort, order, and explanation, but for many it's just a temporary thing. Memories fade. Fervor cools. Fear subsides. Shaking calms, and we settle back to old habits and ways, separating out into "religious" and "normal", until "religious" becomes less and less important and more and more neglected.
Thankfully, not everyone follows that path. Wonder what leads some to remain immersed in their faith even while others precipitate out? Maybe it's like orange juice.
Printed on the bottle of OJ in my fridge is the familiar phrase "Shake Well Before Using". I can see that there are two layers in the bottle before I shake, a thin upper and a thicker lower. After vigorously following instructions, they get mixed together into that fruity goodness I enjoy. But no matter how vigorous - even excessive - I am with that shaking, I have to do it again the next day.
I'm not saying that people will only stay close to God if He keeps rocking their world. We couldn't stand the strain! I'm saying we need a deeper, repeated stirring.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24 -25
"Consider" - apply all our powers of thought, observation, and imagination to seek solutions
"Stir" - provoke, poke, spur (I like spur, because I always wanted to be a cowboy.)
"Love and good works" - not mere religious activity, but life-changing action
"Not neglecting to meet together" - interaction with those who share the vision of a world changing faith
"Encouraging one another" - provoking, poking, spurring, and stirring so that our momentum isn't lost
Shaking comes to all of us. Our world is disturbed by events, and we try to find peace from the storm. Maybe we'd do better to enjoy peace IN the storm - a peace that is empowered by our transformation into the "fruity goodness" of the Church Triumphant! Don't just be shaken. Stir up yourself and each other to be part of God's eternal and imminent Plan.