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Delight In The Ordinary

by Terry Barlow
06/24/16
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After traveling a highly familiar path to a particular destination multiple times a week for about two years,  I suddenly and unexplainably found an improved route based on the old one but shaving some significant time and distance off of the original route.   Simply by being a little more alert and aware of the street signs I was passing,  I was able to improve upon what was already a relatively direct route.

Why does this experience give me such pleasure?  Because of a precious gift.  Merely to know that what has been proceeding unchanged for so long can suddenly give way to alteration and improvement encourages me that we are to be ready at any time for some fresh development to break into our lives.  As I reflect further I conclude that one of the greatest gifts we can receive from God is the delight in the ordinary or the enjoyment of the mundane.  This is to be rescued from boredom!  And boredom has been defined as an over accumulation of unexamined experience.

Ordinary is by definition not extraordinary.  If it was it would not be ordinary.  In fact without an extensive background and track record of the ordinary there would be no stage set for the extraordinary, and no basis for it.  Thank God too for the extraordinary when it comes along our way.   But what keeps even an abundant life interesting is taking the time and having and using the ability to see God’s hand  (and face) in our everyday affairs.  The abundant life that Jesus came to give us (John 10, v10) is not primarily about more things or experiences or credentials, or even more relationships,  I’m convinced, but about a deeper appreciation and application of the ones we already have!