Ordinary

 June 6, 2021

Our fifty-first anniversary hasn’t been a whirlwind of romance; instead, it’s been a celebration of a different kind of love that gives till it comes back to you, wave upon wave. Jesus himself told us to cast our bread upon the waters and it would come back to us, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Such has certainly been the case for us as we spent the day cleaning up after our granddaughter’s wedding reception in our backyard. Hundreds of china plates, stemware, silverware and all the pots and pans required to feed two hundred people took most of the day to wash, pack, and put away. We have been blessed to be surrounded by wonderful giving people who made it all possible.

Last night our backyard looked like a fairyland, and now it’s back to normal, much like life itself. High and holy moments such as we witnessed at Abi and Jake’s wedding, as wonderful as they are, are few and far between. Most of life is lived in ordinary circumstances, and as much as we love and remember these special occasions, if we rely on them alone for our strength and inspiration, we shall live disappointing lives. 

Luke’s gospel tells of Jesus’ encounter with two people walking along a road to Emmaus, a small settlement near the ancient Jerusalem. They talked about the Scriptures as they related to current events, but it wasn’t till Jesus broke bread with them, ie. shared a meal, that they recognized Who it was at the table with them. It is in such ordinary matters as sharing a meal together that Christ reveals himself to us. Ordinary days are often God’s choice vessels for extraordinary encounters. Abi and Jake’s day yesterday was extraordinary, but so was Linda’s  and mine as we experienced the presence of Christ worshipping together this morning, and working together this afternoon.