Saturday, February 20, 2010

Embracing The Daily Grind

"Drudgery is the touchstone of character. There are times when there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task. Routine is God's way of saving us between our times of inspiration."  (from Oswald Chamber's MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.)

Don't we all have those routine kind of times in our lives? The daily grind. The things we do every day. Some of it is so routine that we go through the motions not even giving them a second thought. Making the coffee. Driving to work. Grocery shopping, or getting gas because our tank is almost on E. Running kids to their activities. Fixing dinner.Checking email. The list could go on and on.

There are days when I wonder if my "daily grind" is really making a difference? Are the things that I do important? How is my being here at this time and in this place, making a difference? These are common questions that I am sure a lot of us ponder at one point or another. Everyone wants to feel important... That the work that they do is valuable... That the routine is for a greater purpose.

It occurred to me that the routine things of life are what make for security and comfortableness. If life were always a roller coaster ride---always searching for the next thrill---that would get exhausting, wouldn't it? Even "thrilling" would get tiring after a while. It is my opinion that life really is about the small, daily things. Even if those things sometime seem mundane.

God in His infinite wisdom, in His time, chooses when to give us our moments "of inspiration". A glimpse into His plan. A brief peek at the reason we are here, doing what it is we are doing. The verse from Esther rings in my mind. Esther, a young Jewish woman, had become queen to king Xerxes of Persia. Her fellow Jews were in danger of being killed when her cousin, Mordecai, reminds her that even though she, herself,  might be in danger she needed to step up to save her people.  He tells her, "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"  (Esther 4:14)

"For such a time as this"-------- Who of us knows what God has planned for us? How He will choose to use our lives to touch others? To be a small part of His greater plan?  God chose each of us to be here. At this very moment in time. For His purpose. So, on those days when we all feel a little (or a lot) worn down, tired, and maybe just a little hopeless....remember Mr. Oswald's quote, "Routine is God's way of saving us between our times of inspiration."

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