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| Beauty in the ordinary |
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? - Romans 9:20-21
Yesterday I was driving to work and toward the end of my long commute, I was once again lamenting the start of my work day. Days are full of hustle and bustle and can be demanding in my part-time position in the health care setting. I am on the go for 6-8 hours without a break unless the number of patients that sign into the clinic subsides. It rarely does.
Anyone who knows me well knows my passion for ministry and my desire to love and serve others in order to make a positive difference in their lives, especially for those that are exceptionally broken, poor, and needy. So here I was yesterday about to enter my work setting and I was not too excited about it. I felt God gently reminding me that although I would rather be serving in other capacities, and I would honestly rather be home attending to my own needs and my own family, that He wanted me to remember that I am just one person in this world, and that there are a lot of others who need the care that I was going to help provide them with in my work setting. God spoke to my heart and gently said, "It is not all about you." "You are here to love and serve the people who come through these doors." That was a real eye opener for me.
Somehow I have divorced my passion to love and serve those in need from my work because it feels more like a J-O-B and a lot less like ministry. I guess God has a different perspective. I can definitely say God's words to me yesterday really changed my perspective, and although the day was off-the-charts busy, it went smoothly, and I could feel Him shaping my perspective and helping me to love and serve those that I encounter in my work instead of viewing them as a nuisance.
I suppose if God is ever going to use me in greater ways, I need to gently yield my heart to His plans and allow Him to use every part of my life to make me into the person He wants me to be - even the difficult and challenging parts. Personally I like the fun, fulfilling, and rewarding parts!
I am eagerly anticipating how He is going to use the challenges and demands of my work to help me become more like Him.
