Titus2 Tuesday-Finding Holy in the Ordinary

I originally posted this in November of 2008, but it wasn't linked to Titus2 Tuesday at that time. Since then, I've written several "finding God in the everyday" posts myself, and people invariably comment on how I find God in everything. I've been reading Carol's devotionals for almost 2 years now, and it is HER influence that has opened my eyes to the fact that HE is everywhere and part of everything. So, I'm reposting what I wrote, with heartfelt thanks to Carol Mead for opening MY eyes to a Holy God in an ordinary world. (for more posts about women who have an impact on another woman's life, visit Shanda at A Teachable Heart)

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November 18, 2008

As a preamble, this devotional was written by Carol Mead, a fellow alum of Mississippi University for Women. I heard about her on the alumnae message board about a year and a half ago. Alums would post about "Carol's great devotionals", and how she was able to take ordinary, daily events and see the hand of God. To learn more about her life story, visit her website (linked at the bottom of the devotional) and click on "About Carol Mead". But just to give you a taste of her heart, here's a short except on how she found her passion for finding the holy in the ordinary:

"I had always read a great deal about spirituality and philosophy, and tried to "study my way" to God. My head was filled with facts. I knew about God, but that hunger in me was to know God. I believed at that time that some great lightning-bolt of a signal would come from God to let me know He was ready for me. So I sat around waiting, going to church, getting hungrier and hungrier but thinking I was waiting on God.

Then a friend told me a story that changed my life. A strong Christian, she had been discussing God with me in depth for a week or so. One night, she said she felt as if she were facing me, and that I had my back to the most beautiful sunset in the world. She kept telling me that I needed to turn around because it was beautiful, and I kept telling her, "Prove it." She said, "If you just turn around, it will prove itself."

The story didn’t sink in that night, but the next morning, it did. I was walking through the parking garage at work when the story’s meaning occurred to me: God is ready for me, and He is simply waiting for me to turn around. My friend was right; the view did prove itself. From that moment on, I have developed a powerful and passionate relationship with God. It’s no longer enough to just see the sunset, I want to be part of its fire."

Wow~what a fabulous visual! Carol, I'm with you... I want to be part of it's fire, too. Thank you for the daily inspirations that you give me. I get your devotionals each weekday in my inbox; I save them in my "Holy Ordinary" file and now have 345 that I can access. I have printed about 150 of them to give to a friend who was going through a tough time, and they were an inspiration to her, too. The one below touched me deeply, especially when paired with the "Life Without Limbs" video below it. If you want a little "Holy Ordinary" in your inbox to start your day, visit Carol's site and subscribe to her free updates. You'll never look at this ordinary world in the same way again.


Unimaginable
Holy Ordinary: Finding God in the Everyday
November 17, 2008


Habakkuk 2:1-4,9-20: For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Yesterday I heard a presentation about a place where birth defects and injuries force many children to live without limbs or without sight. When some of them draw pictures of children, they often draw figures without arms or legs, as they apparently cannot imagine amything else. They must wonder: What would a world be like where all have arms for embracing and eyes for seeing?

We humans struggle to imagine the kingdom of God; too often, we make it look like a dressed-up version of this world, as we're unable to imagine what God holds in store for us. Accustomed to seeing people in pain and competition or frantically gathering possessions and status, I cannot imagine a world of such wholeness that we needn't hurt each other or push each other aside to feel worthy.

What will it be like, when the kingdom of heaven breaks in? The only way I wait patiently for such a time "though it linger," is to find a piece of that kingdom in this world. If, for one moment, I can live as if others' views of me don't matter, as if every person matters equally in my eyes, then I may have a revelation of what is to come in God's "appointed time."

What would such a world be like, where we all have arms for embracing and eyes for seeing?

Psalm 89: 1-18; James 2:14-26; Luke 16:19-31
© 2008 by Carol Mead. This material is copyrighted, but you may forward it in its entirety to others. To subscribe, visit the website at http://www.holyordinary.com/

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