O is for Ordinary by Lorilee Guenter

 

This past week, I have stumbled across a number of quotes related to journeys. There is an excitement about the destination. New experiences, celebrations, and milestones all draw our attention. In between the milestones are everyday, ordinary events. these are part of the journey that at times we overlook, at least I do.

In the midst of planning, hoping and dreaming we encounter the moments of life. Some church traditions mark ordinary time. It is important. When I rush around, or when I fix my attention on that upcoming event, I miss the daily joy of being. When I pause, when I lean into the everyday experience, I notice details. Conversation flows as we enjoy a meal together. The ordinary becomes extraordinary as I notice and acknowledge God's presence. I am able to recognise His hand at work in the moment.

Rushing and wishing, grumbling and complaining,with impatience, not only lead me to miss what is in front of me, they block my creativity. This is not a surprise since I believe my creativity is a gift from God. It is one way we as humans can reflect God's image. Grumbling does not reflect His character. Rushing causes details to disappear that might draw us closer to Him. Stress of what might be clouds what is. Peace falters. My mind spins. I lose sight of the source of everything.

As I sit down to revise and edit, I realise it is only when I ground my characters in the ordinariness of life that the story begins to come alive. Those ordinary details set the stage for the journey that pulls the reader in. They are connection pieces. I can not include these grounding pieces if I haven't allowed God to ground me in the moment.

Recently I have been in a liminal space, a time of transition. I am not quite here and I am not yet there. It is a place of waiting, of trusting and of learning. It is a place God is reminding me that the ordinary, everyday experience is valuable. He is with me in the waiting. He knows what comes next and will show me at the right time. When I write a story, I am discovering as I go. Not so the author of my life. He knows me intimately and is gently guiding me into every discovery. He is shaping me by them.

This gives me confidence and comfort as I live out my ordinary days. It is my hope and prayer that as the next destination comes into view, I will be able to enjoy both the anticipation and rest in each ordinary moment between now and then. I hope you will join me in this. 

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Bryan Norford

I’ve been reading with interest responses to writer’s block, which appears to be the experience of most—Glynis excepted: way to go, girl!—but providing varied responses to the phenomenon. Most feel it is a battle to fight, especially if it impedes deadlines or commitment. Both Bobbi and Tracy have some good tips on that.

Even then, we fight not against bricks and mortar, or more close to home, blocks and writer, but against spiritual opposition from the highest levels. But some, like Sandi and Connie, have suggested writer’s block is part of the ebb and flow of a writer’s spiritual life.

Perhaps we can garner support for that idea from Solomon: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven . . . ” Ecclesiastes 3:1. Ann and I penned a devotional in our book, Happy Together, showing how this “interference” is really part of earthly life.

There’s nothing like a day of accomplishment when everything goes according to plan and is complete. But we also have frustrating days of redo, repair, or failure, achieving nothing of significance.

Upon reflection, we realize that there must be times for preparation, planning, and evaluation; times for correcting previous work or adapting to changing circumstances; even times for rethinking and renewing the way we live.

In the big picture both the time of advance and apparent retreat are all part of the same process. To advance tomorrow as we did yesterday, we may need to retrench today. Today’s reading (Eccl. 2:9–14) gives some rationale to this process. In it we recognize a bigger picture than we can see, even when questions are unanswered: “the burden God has laid on men.”

This is particularly true of the setbacks of life, which baffle us. At those times Ecclesiastes exhorts us to find satisfaction in the daily routine, recognizing that every day has meaning in God’s bigger picture beyond our grasp.

Relationship in marriage is much the same. The conflict and abrasion between partners discourages us. Stopping and dealing with interpersonal relations seems an unnecessary disruption in other important areas of life.

But in the larger picture, it is part of the process, as necessary as the times of joy and companionship together—and in the end deepens the relationship.

It’s often necessary to leave the big picture to God and trust him with what we can’t figure out.

So let’s put that infernal writer’s block in its place. It’s an opportunity to recharge; perhaps to read, wander, smell the roses. Above all, enjoy the pleasure of His company and so deepen the well from which inspiration springs.