The Ordinary

3 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isaiah 6:3 (New International Version)
 

Blessing the Ordinary

Let these words lay themselves like a blessing upon your head,

your shoulders, as if, like hands, they could pass on to you

what you most need for this day, as if they could anoint you

not merely for the path ahead but for this ordinary moment

that opens itself to you– 

by Jan Richardson 

Circle of Grace: A book of Blessings for the Seasons

The poem and scripture illuminate the ordinary days of our lives. God’s glory is here every day, not just in mountain-top moments. It is a wondrous thing, that the whole earth- not just the pretty parts, not just the ones that are immediately recognizable as useful, lovely, or even “good” are included in what God considers glorious. Consider spiders who eat mosquitoes. Spiders are helpful, but not exactly beautiful. Forest fires help prepare the soil for a new planting season and subsequent harvest. Generally, forest fires are not good! Those serve as extreme examples; it is harder to remember that the Lord is in the simple things too. A fresh cup of coffee, a warm conversation with a friend, an open smile with a stranger in the market, a favorite meal, or the relief in air conditioning are all ordinary ways we can take a moment to remember the glory of the Lord is everywhere. God’s glory is put on display in relationships, in the gifts of healthy food, in the ingenuity and creativity that God gave people. This creative work brings us things like electricity and air conditioning. May God reveal these ordinary glories, that are already in your life, to you today. 

In Christ, 
Pastor Elyse