Experiencing the Mundane

I woke up this morning and decided it was time to wear the long pants running. No not the pants that were running, but run with the long pants on. Now, I knew the drawer they were in and the approximate location of where in that drawer they should be. However, in the dark, trying to be quiet as a mouse, I was relatively sure I would come up empty handed. No, indeed they seemed to reach out to me. They were in hand in under a second. That wouldn’t have happened in daylight.

We have a Cuisinart Grind and Brew. It grinds your coffee beans and then sucks them into the filter. It kind of sounds like a rocket ship taking off. It is programmed to take off at 5am. I am usually in the other room putting my shoes on when it does its thing. But, I woke up with an atrocious crick in the neck and I decided to take some pain reliever … which sits next to the coffee pot. As I approached the site, my mind not truly functioning properly yet, I thought, “I haven’t heard it go off yet. I wonder why?” And at that moment – like I mentally started it – it blasted its rockets. I was anticipating it and so I did not jump through the ceiling or have a heart attack.

The Holy Spirit practices the Discipline of the Mundane.

1.     Describe a time, even if it was only a brief moment, when you experienced the ability to live on two levels at once.

I don’t quite have the moment. We were putting up Christmas decorations in the church on Monday. As I was working with my team, putting ribbons on wreaths, hanging them on the appropriate doors, explaining what all needed to be done and what had already been taken care of, my ears were open to all of the conversations around me. We had a lot of new helpers this year. They had never done it before and didn’t know “the drill”. But they were well aware of what the end product should look like. Periodically, I would hear a few words louder than others. Although they might not have realized it, the words were meant for me because I could address them. So I would step back from my group and take care of them.

Yesterday, I was in my daughter’s kindergarten class. I hadn’t planned on staying the rest of the afternoon, but she asked me to. I hate to intrude or disrupt, so I seated myself in an unobtrusive spot. But it became relatively apparent that there were many things I could do to help. So I was helping with one thing, but aware of possibilities all over. I never would consider myself the kind of person who can recognize that something needs to be done and then just do it. I’m more of a “I could if it’s all right” kind of girl.

These things weren’t grand. They were mundane, not to belittle them. They are still important. And they are levels I tend to ignore. But I didn’t.

2.    What are some of the things that can get in the way of this kind of ongoing awareness of God’s presence and closeness?

Well, in the two instances above there were many things that could have gotten in the way, the first being my tendency to not “take charge.” God tells me to do something or suggests it or points it out and I ignore it. I decide that my current activity or task or job is more important. Or you can decide that you are not the person for the opportunity the Lord presents to you. Someone else would be better or it is someone else’s job. You can also be too single-minded in what you are doing. You have tunnel vision. You are more concerned with your own goals than God’s goals.

What have you discovered that has helped you grow in your awareness of your life in God, even in the midst of your daily responsibilities?

I am more aware of what others need or want and I try to see myself as one of God’s many hands in helping to achieve that need or want. And I’ve been shown that something I might consider to be a little thing is a very important thing to someone else. I am helped lot by keeping God in my mind more often through this book or the Word. And leading the Sunday School in song and prayer and in studying the Word has stayed with me more than perhaps anything else.

Psalm 121

3.    Take a few minutes and write down what you think God sees and thinks when he looks at you while you are sleeping.

I think He sees a restless, lost soul who is struggling to find my part and missing what is right here and now and present and surrounding me. And He’s thinking that He longs for me to just give it up and give it to Him. He wants to give me rest. He wants to show me that I am not alone if I would only just wake up.

What can you learn about your perspective on the heart of God for his children?

He only wants good for us. He wants to keep evil from us. He wants us to be present in His time. He wants us to work with Him for His Kingdom. He wants us to let go of all our hang-ups. He wants us to trust Him. He has the answers. All of them.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29-31 (ESV)