The Mundane

I'm just going to confess I am a dreamer and an idealist. I am a peace maker, hate conflict and long to live in a world where everything just makes sense. I like to see life through the eyes of Louis Armstrong in ,"What a Wonderful World". Even though our world is far from that, I think the closest example of this is a holiday. They are just plain fun! We have great food, get dressed up, everyone gets along (usually), see our extended family, and just celebrate. I love holidays! The trials of life seem to take a backseat for just a few moments.

 I believe for many of us the day after a holiday can be a let down. Mommas have all of the messes to clean up after the party. The candy, dishes, and chores left undone from the celebration can be a grim reminder that "the party is over". So what do we do with those days between the celebrations that we have to live the day to day. The mundane. The normal schedule where there aren't any presents, baskets, or family parties. The trials resurface and we "go back to work".

As I think on the day after Easter, I can't help but be thankful that Jesus has taught me how to live the in between. Not only have I learned that he is my joy, but I'm finally understanding that that was actually the purpose of it all. My salvation was intertwined from the cross to the grave, but it was meant to be lived out in the in between. Jesus is my constant, the truths of who he is gives me the life, joy, and strength to not only face the mundane, but make the mundane my celebration. In a world where we focus on the loudest, expensive, and most perfect of anything, I am given the freedom to embrace the beauty of a mundane life of quiet, simple, and imperfect brokenness that rejoices in the fact that I don't have it all and don't have it all together. Now that is something to celebrate. My lack is fulfilled in the person of Jesus and if I have him, I have everything. So for this simple minded idealist I can cling to that hope. Even when trials are not gone, life doesn't add up or look like the perfect picture I have painted in my little mind, I can rejoice. His truths set me free, his love is enough, and his purposes mend the messes that I can't fix.

We walk, seek, and embrace the life we have before us. The journey off the beaten path is a path worth taking. Enjoy the mundane.