An Ordinary Day

An ORDINARY Day

Wake, stretch, rise, eat, bather, dress, face the summertime heat, travel to Georgia, visit with family. 

It's an ORDINARY day.

The Christ-songs, the liturgy, the thousands of people gathered, the opening convocation message. All of these stir within me the gravitational pull that draws my helter-skelter self to the Center that is God. This feast for eyes and ears begins to satiate my hungry soul and quench my dry spirit. My mother's heart swells beyond previously-known boundaries as son, Brent, serves Communion to his Dad and me. 

For this child I prayed and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD. (1Samuel 1: 27-28)

Yet, it is an ORDINARY day.

Families gather, ordinands process, the rich vibrations of voices and instruments stir--no, shake-- my senses to absorb the moving Spirit of God and to participate in highest praise. I want to shout. I want to dance. I want to laugh.  I want to clap my hands and "hug away" my joy and thanksgiving to the LORD with the beautiful Body of people here.

Still, it is an ordinary day.

The inspiring message by friend and Bishop Debbie that reminds us of God's never-ending love, the ordination prayer and laying on of hands for Brent, the passing of the Deacon stole from Rob to Brent (are there higher, more holy moments for a mother to witness?), the tears which flowed in place of words, the sweetness of grandsons hugging and congratulating their Daddy...

Nevertheless, it is an ORDINARY day.

These blessed moments in time, these mind-blowing, heart-filling, faith-enlarging, and soul-'beloving" moments, add up to a great and ORDINARY day. ORDINARY because, as one definition states, ORDINARY means "belonging to the usual order, or course." Though these moments may are not ordinary in human occurance, we remember what we know about God. We believe that God's mercies are new every morning. We trust that God never changes. We know that it is God's pleasure to give good gifts to those who ask God. We are confident that God, Who began a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it. And we are certain that Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, came that we might have life and have it abundantly. These promises, and many more, assure us that it is God's nature, God's ORDINARY way, to bless us, to fill us with joy, and to love us with an everlasting love.  Anything else would NOT be ORDINARY.

EVERYDAY is an ORDINARY day.

Thank-you, God for your EXTRAORDINARY love and for this ORDINARY day. Open my eyes to see you, to know your love, and to serve you each and every ORDINARY day.

WIDE-EYED PRAYERS.

"Bow your head and close your eyes. This is how we talk with God." As children, many of us were taught to do these steps before we prayed! Not bad advice. Closed eyes and bowed heads help control the busyness and the inability to focus inherent in many little bodies. Even today, in my empty-nest  life, I need those times of bowed head and closed eyes--to help block out distractions and worries.

I find, though, that going through my day with "eyes wide open" presents me with NUMEROUS opportunities to pray. Wide-eyed prayers are a combination of physically begin attentive to the world around me and spiritually asking God to reveal himself to me. It's a Christian worldVIEW in a different sense!

The mountains in western North Carolina display themselves as one of the most beautiful areas in the United States. The majesty and colorful foliage of the mountains evoke praise and thanksgiving for God's strength and artistic mastery. The lakes, snow, abundant flora, and wildlife elicit gasps of wonder for God's creation. The baby birds in my yard, the crocuses on the walking path, the new-born calf in Farmer Scotty's field-- all these give me joy and remind me of the new life we have because of Christ's death and resurrection.

Other wide-eyed prayers are not as obvious. I find that if I ask the LORD each morning what he would have me do that day, new and unusual prayers arise. Take Facebook (FB), for example. Not only do I receive direct prayer requests from friends but I discover there are many not-so-obvious prayer needs. As I scan the FB posts, I am often filled with prayers of thanksgiving for friends old and new, as well as for distant family members that I've lost touch with through the years. Unsolicited "Meta-picture" and "God-vine" videos can touch me to the core of my being. Seeing a Father reunited with his children after active duty abroad, or watching an animal save the life of its owner, arouses joy and gratitude and sometimes prayers for healing.

Lately, I've been disturbed by the content of several television shows and commercials--actually, I've been appalled. I summon the courage and then contact the producers of the shows and the companies marketing themselves through those commercials. However, more and more, I'm drawn to pray for them. Yes, we must put feet on our prayers and actively protest wrongs we see, but let's not forget to pray.

A pastor of mine encouraged his congregation to take note of  "God-Sightings"--unexpected places where we saw God at work in the lives and events around us. Wonderful stories emerged as people stepped up to share their discoveries.  I think wide-eyed prayers take God-sightings a step-further. Let's see God in and through the people and events of our lives but don't stop there. With eyes wide open, let's give thanks and praise, confess the sin in our lives, and intercede for the needs we see.

JOYFULLY
and with EYES WIDE OPEN,
Susan

Humility and Miss America

This post may not make sense to some people but I need to get this off my chest.

Lately, in connection with my job search, I've been thinking a lot about humility. It's a lost art, I believe. First of all, I need to say that there are some overly meek, wimpy people who never stand up for themselves or defend their point. I don't call that humble. Secondly, and what is really sticking in my craw,  are the OBVIOUSLY "not humble" people I encounter. You know the type, the gal who talks so much about  herself that you can't get a word in edgewise. I call this person the "raiders of the lost ark" talker because it seems that they are afraid that if they stop talking, the huge ball rolling down the hill will crush them! OR, this could be the type who constantly slip in names of people they know, things they have done, or places they have been. This doubles in annoyance when it is in combination with the first type! It triples in craw-sticking-ability when the braggadocio statements come in the guise of good deeds (a faux-humility, if you ask me!) And... another sub-category here is the all-out braggart, not the least bit shy about verbally detailing all his wonderful deeds.

Another side of "humility" that gives me pause... just happens to be me. I began to give serious thought to the subject of humility when I applied for several jobs over the course of the past 12 years. After having worked in one successful leadership position (ministry) for 17 years, I had not had to "put myself" out there--or make myself known in a long time. It shocked me to see and hear what other applicants said about themselves. I could not, just could not, brag in that way, so proud and puffed up. In my naiveté,  I could not see how any employer would want such a braggart on her team.  What added to my confusion was my own husband telling me (as encouragement before an interview), "...  don't be so humble."  It appears that humility has little value and that, no matter how qualified you may be, if you aren't willing to gloat about yourself and push to be heard, you won't be noticed, won't get the job.

It's funny--the things that stick in your mind from your childhood. Many years ago, in the 1960's and 70's, my family loved to watch the annual Miss America pageant (the pageants were different then, in the days before feminist movements and women's liberation, and they enjoyed popularity and a strong following). The pageant finalists were brought on stage, one-at-a-time, to pick an admirable trait or quality from a stack of words and, then, to discuss that trait. I will never forget my saint-of-a-mother saying that she wished the contestants had the word, "humility," that that was her favorite quality. My mother was a stay-at-home Mom and I loved (love) her dearly but I am ashamed to say that, in my younger years, I did not think she was very "with it," not "up on the times," she was not keeping up or progressing. Now, as a wizened mother and grandmother, I understand what she meant regarding humility and I better understand the choices she made for herself, and for us. "Humble, lovingly humble," are words that best describe my mother and, as I have said in an earlier post, I would like to be more like my mother, who is like Jesus.

Humble yourself in the sight of the LORD and he will lift you up. (James 4:10) is just one of many Bible verses of God's love for humble people and His disdain for the proud. Even Christ, our Messiah and LORD, humbled himself and died on a cross (Phil.2:8).

So, will I ever find a job? I will trust the LORD to not let humility get in the way, to give me wisdom in all things, and to count this time in my life as joy. 

I've rambled around a subject that confuses me but, hey,  I feel better.