Today was ordinarily perfect. Looking at the surface nothing unusual happened. Everyone exits their tent between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. based on each person’s threshold for the morning sun. Breakfast is eaten; showers are taken and the countdown begins. For the last three days, we have been resting from our three-day journey from London to South Africa to Mozambique. Some people have an endless supply of activities: reading, swimming, reading in the hammock, playing cards, manicures, reading on the porch, walking, pedicures the list goes on and on. Others have hard time occupying the single ticks of the second that moves at a pace not near the speed they desire. As for me, I love each moment encapsulated by every tick of the second hand. I woke up took a shower and grabbed my portion of Museli (world race cereal substitute). My next moment though seemingly ordinary, completely shaped the course of the rest of my day. The family we are staying with has Swiss Family Robinson type of existence. Their property is situated on a beautiful lake with lots of land, sand and dogs. Pathways made of various materials, mats, stones and sand lead to the house, kitchen, showers, church and porch. The latter is where this anything but monumental event took place. Walking with measured steps toward my tent, my intention was to find a place to spend some time with God. A split second later I found myself on a different path. A path that lead me straight to a chair. A special chair? No. A chair with significance? No. An ordinary chair. Little did I know, sitting in the chair would change the course of my day. I relaxed into the chair and exhaled. Brennan Manning describes this phenomenon as “sink[ing] down into my heart”.
Looking into the face of the full moon, I thank God for being amazing. Even when I am unaware, He is truly amazing. Every detail of the day testified to this very truth. What was so great about this day? It was totally, completely, beyond a shadow of a doubt ordinary. I hung up bags of water to keep away the flies. Helped Maria, our host mother, do laundry. Ate some lunch. Finished up the laundry. I sat in a hammock. Swam with friends. Learned to do the butterfly stroke. Unloaded groceries. Ate Dinner. Studied the Bible with our big team. Flinanagened (code word for team meeting) with the G:racers. Completely ordinary. Sitting with my team, I realized how perfect the day had been. I was able to just BE! Not worry about what people thought. Not thinking about all the things I was supposed to do. Not trying to feel what I should feel. Just BE! Don’t ask me how. I simply chose to sit in a chair. God took care of the rest. Today, I was just His little girl. I was honest. I served from the heart. I enjoyed the company of all those around me. I had good conversations. I smiled. I laughed. I realized this is exactly how life should be. Not highs. Not lows. Norms. Normal everyday life can be extraordinary. For so long I have been running from the ordinary everyday of it all. Only to discover God right smack in the middle of the everyday. Prayers were answered. Blessings recognized. Praises lifted. Laying my head down that night, I was as happy as I have been in long time. God never ceases to amaze me.
