Sometimes life is tedious. While self-help books promise endless passion for life and the mystics promise endless ecstasy, the reality is that many of our days are simply mundane. And they need to be. There are clothes to wash, forms to complete, toddlers to feed, drains to unclog, papers to write, and shoes to resole. At work or at home, there are always tasks that simply need to be done. During these times it can be easy to feel as if the promised abundant life has passed us by (John 10:10).
The early disciples experienced their ecstasies. Paul was caught up into the heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2). John had visions (Revelation 1:10). Phillip was supernaturally whisked away (Acts 8:39). Peter saw Jesus transfigured into radiant light before his very eyes (Mark 9:2). Folding napkins and getting the oil changed hardly compares.
Yet we forget that Jesus and the disciples had their experiences of tedium just as we do: hours spent walking dusty streets; meal times to arrange; family members to attend to. Yes, Jesus was transfigured on the mountaintop, but He also washed dirty feet (John 13:1-17). Yes, Peter walked on water (Matthew 14:29), but he also followed Jesus on the dusty path. The apostle Paul saw heaven, but told the Thessalonians that a life that pleased God included living quietly, minding one’s business, and working diligently (1 Thessalonians 4:11). “We like to speak and act out of the rare moments of inspiration,” says Os Guinness, “[but Jesus] requires our obedience in the routine, the unseen, and the thankless.”
There is a place for mountaintop spirituality. Praise God for it! But in the valley, in the mundane, we can experience a special splendor too. We are to do all things for Him (Colossians 3:17). He has promised to be with us wherever we go and in whatever we do (Matthew 28:20). His presence has always made mundane things holy.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Joshua 10:1-15
More:
Read Mark 6:30-44 and notice how the supernatural can take place during the mundane task of handing out food.
Next:
Are you prone to consider tedious tasks as less spiritual? How will you acknowledge, welcome, and submit to Jesus’ presence in your mundane matters today?
winn collier on March 5, 2012 at 11:47 am
Sheridan, you have to know I’d appreciate this. Little that I do in my life – including loving my wife and boys and living out my vocation – has a steady high. It is love, lived in the everyday and ordinary. Thanks.
sheridan voysey on March 6, 2012 at 3:22 am
‘It is love, lived in the everyday and ordinary.’ Very quotable, my friend! Spot on.
daisymarygoldr on March 5, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Great post, Sheridan Voysey! The reason why tedious tasks are considered as less spiritual is because the word spiritual is erroneously equated with religious, pious, moral, good, holy, and heavenly—something that is limited to church or sacred ritual . This has led to the thinking that spirituality is some sort of an experience people have while reading the Bible, meditating, praying, fasting, and worshipping.
This confusion has caused the word to acquire a negative connotation among Christians today. A spiritual person is seen as someone who regularly attends church, reads the Bible, prays, does not sin, and is perfect. Hence they are branded as hypocrites, self-righteous, Pharisees posing for others. In fact I have heard both people and preachers say Jesus was not spiritual but just ordinary like most of us.
Unfortunately, this is not what the Bible says. Paul wrote in his letter that he wanted to speak to Spiritual people, but was not able to (1 Corinthians 3:1). What does it mean to be spiritual? Whoever is born of the Spirit is a spiritual man. In other words, if someone is not spiritual, then that person is not a Christian.
A big blunder within the Church today is that often the mystical and mundane are seen as separate.
In the Bible there is no such dichotomy. “His presence has always made mundane things holy”. God’s presence encompasses the entirety of a believer’s life. From the moment I received Jesus Christ, all of my life is spiritual. So then, how will we acknowledge, welcome, and submit to Jesus’ presence in our mundane matters? By walking in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit permeates every dimension of our lives—in our relationship with the spouse and children, in doing the dirty dishes, driving on the road, interacting with colleagues at work and relating with brothers and sisters in church. When we yield to the God’s Spirit, His fruit is produced in our feelings, thoughts, attitudes, actions, decisions, behaviors, and habits. Spirituality is not a momentary mountain top experience but extends beyond that to delve even into the daily, mundane elements of life.
sheridan voysey on March 6, 2012 at 3:26 am
You’re right daisymarygoldr. Some of the thinkers in this field trace the problem back to Plato – dividing ‘matter/body’ and ‘spirit/soul’ into two distinct entities, one bad and the other good – which western culture (including western faith) has subtly accepted.
There was never any matter/spirit dualism with God, and Jesus – the Word made flesh – put an end to the idea once and for all! The life we live we live in the body – in the here and now – with God.