Pump It Up! Live Elated, Not Deflated Through Disappointing Daysਨਮੂਨਾ

‘Knot’ Again

One thing that was particularly difficult for me in ‘dinghydom’ was the monotony of each day. For example, one genuine highlight during my dinghy days was remembering and trialing a cleaning tip an old lady had told me about. She advised me to clean the grout in between my bathroom tiles with a toothbrush and bleach. The results were truly ‘groutstanding’! I told my husband my enthralling cleaning update, and he realised anew why he married such a charismatic woman. He didn’t bother to ask whose toothbrush I used, so that can remain a secret (his pearly white, bleached teeth may give it away though!). That might be a daft example, but in all honesty, I did feel pretty dull to be around. Conversing with me in my dinghy was not wonderfully exciting. I didn’t have a job to chat about, and my life was very similar each day. Get up, do a workout (humble brag), bathe my little one, do some cleaning, cooking, writing, watch TV, read, go to sleep. Repeat.

Ordinary tasks repeated again and again. Change the nappy, hang up the undies, unload the dishwasher, chop the veggies (ok, break up the chocolate bar!), hoover the rug, run the bath. I’d often wake up thinking ‘Knot’ again.

I have no issue doing any of the aforementioned tasks (especially breaking up chocolate bars!), I’m a very hands-on person and think we should all take responsibility for these everyday duties. But it felt like the ordinary, everyday, mundane tasks were all my life was about. Was that all God, or anyone else, thought I was good for? I want to make a real mark on this planet, not just remove marks from the grout in-between my shower tiles! In honesty, at times it just felt endless, monotonous, and unfulfilling.

I love how the message version phrases our scripture for today from Romans 12; ‘‘Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering.’' Dinghy days, though admittedly challenging in their repetitive nature, can help us learn, or re-learn, the importance of consistency, faithfulness, and service. Our ordinary lives and the mundane tasks within them can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to worship God. We may ‘knot’ be travelling at breakneck speed, but we can certainly worship God well throughout our slower, ordinary days.

Reflection

What boring tasks do you currently feel your life is being defined by? Ask God to breathe new life into your ordinary, everyday duties.