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I was caught today by a quote from Dow Egerton about the challenge of living an ordinary day:
To live an ordinary day... But what could be harder to do? Who can claim to have done so much? A pilgrimage may be easier than a day! A great quest may be easier than a single day! Some task which is dangerous, demanding and full of the bright din of conflict may be easier than the ordinary day
It set me to wondering about this "abundant life" which has become part of christian-speak, as to what it really means. It began in new year reflections, as we sought to bring New Year back into our Christmas thoughts. In Australia, Christmas Day is largely seen as the last day of Christmas, whereas in the Christian calendar, it is seen as the first. So we leave the manger on Christmas Day...
The Apostle Paul spoke of Christmas in terms of 'In the fullness of time God sent forth a son, born of a woman, born under the law'. While at new year, time is on our minds, we reflected on what this "fullness of time" meant for us... Is it to 'live a full life'? to be overloaded with responsibilities and pressures? are we lulled into believing that God wants us to live to the max, stress levels at their optimum, if not their maximum?
I know we're not American, but haven't we bought into the idea that any idiot could be President - the notion that the world is waiting for us to seize the opportunity and maximise our potential? Is that what 'abundant life' is for the christian?
I doubt it.
We spend so much time looking for the mountaintop experience that we never get to enjoy the meandering path through the valley, considering it to be God's gift to us. Instead, we are looking for the next path up the slope, missing the precious gifts flying and walking by us on the journey.
To live an ordinary day... could this be God's desire for us? And how then do we do it?
Posted by gary at January 5, 2007 03:39 PM
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