“The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlight."
This is true. And this helps me. I am pretty ordinary. Not a bit extraordinary, though I have met some pretty extraordinary people. I live in ordinary days, and ordinary moments. I often want my life to seem more like a Grey’s Anatomy episode, or like Robin Williams in Patch Adams(random, I know) their lives seems so exceptional, so dramatic so necessary, and full. Mine has never really been like that. Sure now and then I tend to create a little drama- but its just never glamorous drama.
But those “glamorously dramatic” moments really don’t exist in the frame that I think they do. Great, exceptional, important moments do happen, but in my day to day life these are not the moments with the most worth. I am starting to be pretty content with my ordinary moments. Actually I have fully begun to love ordinary moments when I let myself. I love walking to the bus stop and seeing my new friends (a Chinese couple in their 70s) practicing the waltz on the sidewalk, and getting to hear their story of the day, as they practice this new language- English. I love walking on campus, dreading my next class but remembering I am blessed for this opportunity as so many have helped me better understand. I love checking my email and finding a note from a friend. I love a cup of weak coffee. I love being tired and stressed at the ARC and having Ritchie (a special needs adult) come in with his big smile and tell me about his day, and what the weather forecast is for the upcoming week. I love going home and sitting in silence next to my husband on the couch at the end of the day. I love beginning a new page in my journal. It’s pretty ordinary.
We live in a commonplace time. Maybe our common time is interspersed with exceptional moments, but they wouldn’t be exceptional without the ordinary. Sure, I want to be a hero, a beauty, and a faithful servant in my exceptional moments. But it is the ordinary moments that no one else in my life knows about, thinks about or frankly- cares about, that matter. In these moments I am tested. In these moments I display my beliefs. In these moments I show creation how much I care. In these moments I show people if they are loved or not. In these moments I show Jesus what I really think about Him.
My attitude. My actions. My words. My mentality. My tone. In the smallest moment these things reveal who I am. My heart of hearts.
I look at the 7 hours I have been up today and I wonder in all the ordinary moments of the day, that no one knew about- who was I? Who am I today? What I have told creation, what have I told my classmates, what have I told Jesus? I hope I have spoken the importance of each and my love for each through my ordinary actions.
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