Ministry of the Mundane

What is an example of the ministry of the mundane that you can offer in one of the following areas this week?

1.     In a friendship – I can make myself available for transportation, pick up and drop off of kids as needed.

2.    In the work place – I can pick up and straighten up the room. I can display books. I can get books for special displays.

3.    In your home – I can clean the floors and bathrooms.

4.    In your neighborhood – I can pick up the dog droppings and other trash left behind when I go on my dog walks.

5.    In your church – I can inquire after the health and well-being of our staff and pray for them as individuals. I would call this the Ministry of the Mundane because it is typically their job to do this, but I could take a piece of the burden.

Take a moment and identify one or two simple chores, tasks, or jobs that you know (and others may know) you really don’t enjoy. What might you learn if you commit to one of these tasks on a regular basis for the coming months, seeking the Spirit’s leading in your life as you enter into these simple tasks?

I mentioned above, cleaning floors and bathrooms. I do NOT enjoy cleaning house in any way shape or form. I could go forever without touching a vacuum. But I DO know that my husband appreciates these things. Rather, he expects them to be done and is willing to do them. He just doesn’t have the time and he probably sees me as having the time. If I did them, he would have time to do other things. I could commit to these things and I would hope that he would have a burden lifted from his mind and would be happier. And perhaps spend some more time doing fun things without complaint. I will certainly need the Spirit to lead me here. I have a hardened heart in this area.

What can you do to keep the latch off your door and make yourself more available to others in how you do the following:

1.     Schedule your day – I can choose not to schedule so much. I can attempt to be more flexible and fluid in my day. I can embrace the times when my day doesn’t go as I had planned and use extra time found in useful ways rather than lamenting the change.

2.    Project approachability and availability – I can always present an open face. An anticipatory face. I can choose to see others first and approach them first. Rather than being closed off and “you interrupted?” When a human comes to me, I can set aside my non-human task showing that the human is more important than the work. I can always make the human the priority. Human sounds kind of sterile doesn’t it? But it gets the point across.

3.    Set up your home, office, and other places people connect with you – I can continue to do my “work” in the thick of things rather than build a “my room” where I can hide from daily life. At the office, I don’t have an office, or at least not a desk that I can use. BUT I have a tendency to work at the computer with blinders on when I have a mission or goal to achieve. I need to take the blinders off more often. Force myself to sit at the opposite desk which faces the entry rather than opt for the desk that puts my back towards the people. Other places, I have the tendency to hide my nose in a book. And I’m not necessarily ready to give that up. BUT when I am approached, I can choose to set it aside and not be hostile for the interruption … Note to self. Choose human over book …

1.     Not only can vanity strike in the secular parts of life, it can hit at the core of our spiritual life. What are some signs or indicators that spiritual pride is creeping in?

Choosing to do only things that you are good at so people only ever get to see your “best” side. Turning down opportunities where you will need a little added guidance or help. Choosing to do things alone without help even when the task at hand is too big. Not admitting when you’re out of your comfort zone and that someone else might be better at the job. Hogging all of the servant jobs thinking that you can do them better. Not accepting criticism with an open heart. Having an all or none mentality. Withholding help when your agenda is not supported. In all of these things, it’s all about “me”.

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with  modesty and self-control,
not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
but with what is proper for women who profess godliness – with good works.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 (ESV)