ordinarily great

one of the hardest things for me to do is relax.  i am constantly moving and always want to get something done that moves toward accomplishing something.  this makes sitting down and hanging out with people very hard.  it also makes doing seemingly ordinary stuff difficult.  but, i have been realizing lately that truly great things are accomplished during the ordinary.  there is the moment of greatness, but that moment will only come after much time spent in the ordinary – and that is not bad.

there is a great quote by deitrich bonhoeffer “it is the mark of the grown-up man, as compared to that of the callow youth, that he finds his center of gravity wherever he happens to be at the moment.  and, no matter how much he longs for the object of his desire, it cannot prevent him from staying at his post and doing his duty.”

often, the duty we experience is not very exciting.  many times it is very ordinary. but, when seen with the proper perspective, it is critical to worship and greatness.  mother theresa said ‘you cannot do great things for God, only small things done with great love.”  that is where the rubber meets the road.  it is easy when the great things happen, when we get kudos and recognition for what we do.  it is hard when the dishes are dirty, the kids are crying or the person we are listening to seems to go on and on. 

but, Jesus tells us that we are greatest when we serve, not when we are recognized.  it is through the small acts of worship that we bring the most honor to Christ.  it is also much more difficult.  so, my hope is to be faithful – that as a ‘grown-up man’ that i will find my center of gravity wherever i happen to be at the moment instead of living for the ‘great’ moments and forgetting the great opportunities that i am presented with every day.  

Advertisement