We heard the surprise and confusion in his voice, calling from upstairs, "Did you fold my laundry, Mom?" Nope, I said. It was Dad.
The look on his face, as he ran downstairs, was beautiful- such gratefulness.
One small act of love. One small gift received.
My husband had told me that morning he had felt God's nudge to do it. He quickly and quietly obeyed this prompting. ...and reaped a tender moment with his boy.
The giving of love, the receiving of love. Did that small act matter yesterday? Did that count?
We tend to enumerate and count big things in our world, don't we? There are certain 'big things' that we take note of and admire---changing the world kind of "big" things. We count and keep track of the biggies. Money, fame, admiration, beauty, service, and "likes" all are important if they are BIG. Numbers. Growing numbers. If they can be counted or named. Seen.
But, what if...
What if it really is just the small and mundane things that matter?
Are we all sold a bill of goods in the idea that we have to all do something "big" and significant? How often have I heard a call to "change the world!" (the whole world, really!?) or, as a child, the mantra "you could even be President!" Big things. Presidential things. Important things.
What if its just simply about the day-to-day, every day things of life... the cooking dinner, talking to a friend, driving to work, answering email, 'hello' to the shop attendant, praying, reading, exercising, cleaning the kitchen, sweeping a back porch... these every day life realities--- what if they are truly the highest moments- ripe with the most significance?
I am reading a book right now that is stirring in me and prompting such profound discontent. The book is titled and propagated as a book on contemplation, prayer, and journeying with God. I read the author's continual reminders of all the 'big' things she has done and is doing because of, or alongside, her contemplation and prayer. Almost as if prayer leads to doing great things. Sprinkled and spread within the nooks and crannies of her writing are the assertion of work-with-impact in significant places.
What if prayer doesn't lead to great things... what if prayer is a great thing?
My small life, in a very small place,... my one-person-at-a-time, one moment-at-a-time life... has been screaming at me as I read--- voices accusing me of laziness, not-enoughness, and nothingness. Does it matter that I spent time in prayer today---praying for one small person in a small place? Is that work of significance? This critical voice tells me that my small life is less than. What if that voice is lying to me? What if...?
What if...
Twice this week I happened upon the story of Noah in Genesis. At first glance, I felt the tug of this "huge" thing that Noah did. Right? It felt like an affirmation and nod to the accusations I have been feeling. Noah had a huge impact! He saved humanity from extinction, for goodness sake! Or did he?
As I have been digging in and reading further, another thought has occurred to me---another Voice.
What did Noah actually do? God saw the future. God spoke. God brought the animals. God closed the door. God brought the rain and sustained the little boat above the waves. Really, when it comes down to it...Noah just built a boat.
He built a boat.
He picked up a hammer and some nails... and made a really large boat. That is actually what he did.
People build boats every day. Right? Johnny Cash wrote some songs and sung them. Stephen King put some words on a screen. And, Monet took some color and splashed it about---beautifully---on a canvas, or two. But, actually, Cash, King, Monet and Noah really just lived their everyday life... eating, drinking, sleeping, cleaning, and living lives. For better or worse, they danced their dance. Just like you and me.
Color on a page. Words on a screen. Songs on an instrument. A nail and a hammer.
With this thinking in mind, a new phrase sits with me now when I think about Noah's story. There is a profound and huge statement in Genesis 6:22... "Noah did precisely everything the Lord commanded him to do".
There it is! That's it, right?!
My husband, yesterday, felt God's whisper to fold laundry... and he obeyed. If writing Scripture today, would God inspire the words, "And Dave did precisely everything the Lord commanded him to do."
Oh, how I long for this to be true of me!
The "whatever you do, whatever you eat or drink, do it all to the glory of God"(1 Corinthians 10:31) and "whatever you do, word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17)
What if I was like Noah... I go about my day, listening to God's command and doing "exactly what God commanded". What if I pick up my hammer and nails and build a boat? What if my task today is to pray? What if He nudges me to worship? What if my folding laundry life is the big thing for today... the obedient, worshipful, honoring thing that God would have me do.
What is the look on God's face when we obey and actually do what He wants, I wonder? I would guess its profoundly beautiful and priceless.
