Finding God in the Everyday Ordinary (Part 3)

The day after my mother-in-law’s body was placed in the ground and yellow roses were dropped upon her casket, left to whither, I received a disheartening letter in the mail. The words in the letter told me I had not done enough. I had worked long and hard to put in hours for licensing and had started studying for my exam, but a particular 150 hours had not been enough. These hours pushed me to apply for numerous internships, call strangers with questions, and network with colleagues who would listen in an attempt to find a way for completing the requirement. My efforts were deemed unacceptable. After working one job which was unwilling to give the required supervision, and later an internship without pay, I was worn thin trying to accomplish this unaccomplishable task. And so I set it aside to wither or steep, I know not which. Here I sit in the midst of loss and change – a common enough setting.

In the midst of this upheaval I found my heart fixated on all things domestic. Tending to the simple things of everyday life gifted me with stability and peace. I began reading books and blogs on homemaking; I could not get enough inspiration regarding daily tasks – those activities tied my days together with purpose. Even in the mundane I am made known to God and He to me. I am finding God in the middle of simple daily tasks when I suspend judgment of myself and let this be what it is: transition and transformation. All the time I was devouring homemaking books and blogs I was releasing the work that gave me significance, or so I thought. I say “I am between jobs” but I am finding the simple work of making home meaningful and healing. I am learning to seek God’s guidance in the most basic decisions of my day. He is with me in the meal prep and planning for a holiday.

What happens when the “most important” work no longer exists? How do I find satisfaction in the simple stitches around the edges of the work that once came with an income and was marked “significant”? I found myself at loose ends. I began looking for a sense of connection to my surroundings and to God in my surroundings. At first I felt I had nothing to contribute to our family life. I apply for jobs regularly and do the basic tasks I have always done, but now I have the time to be more thoughtful in making an environment both inviting and nurturing. I am on a pilgrimage of being more aware of His presence, even in the ordinary.

This has become a soft place to land, a soulful space in which the Father reminds me my significance comes only from His creative fingers and not from the work of my own hands. In the place of a dark, wet womb He made me who I am (Psalm 139). There is joy in recognizing we all share the same designer; all are made in His image, yet He used a different pattern creating each of us unique. Your significance and my significance comes from Him. If I learn to accept this truth I am sure I will be freed up to accept that being without a job doesn’t make me a loser, just a creative budgeter.

While waiting, I sip coffee, sifting through and savoring the ordinary moments where God has met me over the past several weeks. The breath of His Spirit blew across noisy family conversations, looking over old photos and sharing memories. The warmth of His nearness escorted me to a room of women exploring grief. While placing bits of autumn decorations around our home in celebration of my favorite season, He joins me. I am choosing to open my heart to Him while chopping vegetables, making space for a friend, planning a family gathering, and in the midst all the ordinary tasks throughout my week. He is present. Always. When I am tuned in, there is heartfelt awareness that I am called to be in His presence no matter what I put my hand to. And that makes all the difference. This results in my being more present to others.

How does this happen? I intentionally make space to be in His presence and listen – to practice sharpening my awareness of Him throughout the day. It is taking time, inviting Him into the dailiness of my life – every bit of it. And it is sitting in the silence waiting for His invitation. I journal. I read. I pray. This is all I know to do, but when I do it regularly and purposefully I am more aware of His presence in my everyday, ordinary life. And though anxiety attempts to detach me from the Presence of the One who wove worth into my DNA, I turn my heart’s gaze toward Him and discover His reassurance. He is present and it is going to be okay.

It is my desire to encourage you to grow in awareness of the presence of God. The words of Juliet Benner say it so well, “God’s presence is constant, and his invitation to union with him always extends to us and constantly waits for us to share our lives with him. The challenge is to choose to turn to God and learn to discover him in the midst of our life experiences.” The invitation is to tune in and listen. Feel free to share a comment describing how you experience God in the everyday.

I have been listening to this beautiful weekly podcast by Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy: Out of the Ordinary. I hope you find time to check it out.