Volume 12: Rest in the Small Moments

 

If you haven't read Liturgy of the Ordinary, this is my subtle plug that you should read it. We are currently going through this book right now in our Tuesday night small group, and it has been challenging all of us to open our eyes to the way God works in even the most mundane moments of every day. A five star rating from both Merry Grace and myself is not a small thing!!!!

As mentioned in my review, if I were an author, I'd want to write a book similar to this. Well you know what! I AM an author! Of my viral blog!!! So it's now time to give it a shot!!!

For Blake's birthday, Pop got her a trampoline and few things will beat the joy she has jumping, falling and running into the net. Madison literally has to climb in to get her off because she loves it so much. At her birthday party, in continual pursuit of attempting to win Blake's heart, I climbed on to the trampoline with her, only then be told "Auntie, no jump." So there I was, standing on the edge of the net, just watching her jump.... until.... I became the STEAMROLLER!!! 

I laid down and began to roll towards Blake, as we both were laughing. As I got closer and closer to her, she became focused, fully determined that she would be able to jump over me. With knees bent and visible belief, she looked as if she believed she would be able to jump higher than the net. 

Yet, rather than getting any air, she face planted on the other side of me, with her full body laying across me. 

"Oh great, here come the tears," I thought to myself.... but before I was even able to finish the thought, I heard great laughter and excitement. She quickly got back up was ready to jump again! 

So the steamroller kept on rolling. And Blakely kept on face planting. 

Over and over and over again. 

No matter how many times she failed, her demeanor was always confident, fully believing that she could do it. 

What a beautiful thing. This innocent two year reminded me of such an important lesson: we are going to fail. What's important is how we respond. 

May I choose to be like Blake and get back up, not allowing myself to be defeated... over and over and over again. 

About once a day, I receive a call to verify employment for past employees at camp. At this point, I lead the call, knowing all the information they will need before they even have to ask. This week, as I was stating the start date of a staff member, I thought to myself "Goodness gracious, I cannot imagine being the person that has to conduct these verifications allllll dayyyy longggg." 

Just this week, in my job, I declined LSU gymnastics legend, D-D Breaux, from working at camp and interviewed and hired a girl from New Zealand. Now that is the opposite of boring... I know that comparison is not healthy, but sometimes there are moments where I find myself grateful for the opportunities and experiences I am given when I realize what I could be doing. 

This week, I took time to read "A Liturgy for one Who Is Employed" from Every Moment Holy every morning. Man, it is beautiful. I highly recommend!

"For my current employment, in this season of life, I give you thanks... Let me work and serve in this position with mindfulness, creativity and kindness, loving you well by loving all whom I encounter here."

Even in the mundane moments of completing my hundredth employment verification, may I find ways to be thankful for the specific roles and opportunities I am given in my employment.

Joy. High fives. Screaming. Laughing. Cheering. Hugging. Excitement. Strangers becoming friends in an instant. All for one common purpose: supporting the one and only, Georgia Bulldogs!!!! Few things beat college football! 

After watching UGA dominate Tennessee, I received a phone call from my brother, who was in Sanford Stadium. With a hoarse voice, full of pure happiness, Matthew yelled "Holy crap, Morgan! That was absolutely insane." Even though it was still just a regular season game, he explained that it was louder than the Rose Bowl and National Championship because "there is something unique about 92,000 people all rooting for the same team."

Now of course, I love my dawgs. And I love when Sanford stadium is WILD. But there are often times I think, "dang, what if people were as passionate about Jesus as we are for College Football." 

Walk around with a Georgia T-shirt and you are likely to have at least one stranger talk to you with a simple, "Go dawgs." We are unified by our love for teams and sports. 

What would it look like to truly be unified for Jesus? For churches to be full of passion and excitement for the gospel? 

As the church, may we continue to know our brokenness more and more, leading us to acknowledging our need for Him more and more. So that we may be truly passionate and constantly speaking of the things we have heard and seen. 

The other day, I purchased a new sweater and it was SO COMFORTABLE and a fabulous color that ~worked well with my eyes~. I was so excited to wear it!! And then.... two days later.... I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW... but there appeared a stain....

I hadn't had a Cherry Limeade since this summer and after a long day, I was allowing myself to drive through the Sonic drive thru to get a cherry limeade. Months of missing my favorite drink and the drought was officially over!! I excitedly grabbed the drink from the girl at the window, quickly unwrapped my straw and took my first sip! Only to discover that it did not taste right... It was basically all lime and no cherry. How disappointing. 

Whether it's a new purchase of an item or quenching a longing, this life still lets us down. Our expectations are not always met. We break things, we get things dirty and new things never stay new. 

Every day is FULL of reminders that this life is temporary. That this earth is not our forever home. 

May we keep our focus on things above, not letting the daily let downs of materialistic things keep us from remembering our eternal home.

Whether it's on a trampoline, answering a phone call, or watching college football, the Lord is present in every moment. 

This week, we FINALLY MADE IT TO THE NEW TESTAMENT in our Bible in a year. Whew, you don't think about how long you will be in the Old Testament when you read through chronologically. Yet, as we are now almost halfway done with Luke, it is such a beautiful thing to be reminded that Jesus is the fulfillment to all promises throughout the whole old testament. 

In the moments of violence, silence, betrayal, exile, etc. Jesus was present. 

In the books of Esther, where God wasn't even mentioned, He was present. 

In our most mundane moments of our day, Jesus is present. 

In the seasons of darkness, where God felt far away, He was present. 

So here's to looking for God in the small moments of every day! I believe we will be pleasantly surprised of how clearly we can see Him working when we actually open our eyes. 

______________________________

"What if instead of waiting for God to grab our attention, we were intentional about giving it to Him?"