Thursday, February 11th, 2010
The Power Of The Ordinary
“…whatever you do you must do all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31
Matte Downey (Eglise Vineyard in Montreal) has blessed us with her photography and writing gifts. Enjoy!
I want to do something great with my life, yes I do. I want to love like Mother Teresa and champion freedom like Martin Luther King Jr. But to be honest, I don’t know where to start. I am not a person wit h great authority. I am not likely to spearhead any earth-shattering event. I don’t have a lot of extra time, and magnificent opportunities don’t come knocking at my door on a regular basis. And even if they did, I don’t know that I would have the required amount of charisma or the necessary skills to take full advantage of them.
None of this seems to bother God. In fact, every morning when we talk about the day ahead, he seems perfectly happy th at my time is filled with mostly small, insignificant, and mundane tasks. How does one save the world while doing laundry, buying groceries, and walking through the neighbourhood?
I invited a friend to go grocery shopping with me. As we pushed a cart through the bread aisle, we found ourselves confessing our shortcomings to each other and shedding tears as we expressed a desire to be free from our petty fears and obsessions. The grocery store becam e a holy place where God listened and forgave and freed.
I have a friend who comes over to do laundry. I love doing laundry because it always reminds me that no matter how filthy and smelly things may get, clean and fresh are only an hour away. Many times we have worked through personal issues together and encouraged each other through hopeless places while the grimy clothes swished in soapy water nearby. My laundry closet has been a place of spiritual catharsis.
I have walked to the corner store with a friend, chatting and raving about my multi-cultural neighbourhood, pointing out bright flowers, blue sky, overhead planes, and ducks in a pond. Somewhere along the way, my love for this place became contagious. The goodness of God shone brighter than any dark cloud over our lives, and complaints were replaced with wonder and gratitude. My city is filled with the glory of God.
Sometimes I forget the power that ordinary things – done with honesty and grace in the company of others – can have. I am changing my world, one dirty sock at a time, yes I am.
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