Though many hards come through dramatic changes, unexpected events, or out of our control scenarios, one hard creeps up for the opposite reason. We experience phases where the pace of life rolls out day after week after month in ordinary, blah, routine. We find ourselves wandering around on the flat, prosaic plains of monotony.  Everything so uniform and predictable it’s wearisome. Another ordinary day. More of the same at work. The unending grind of daily tasks. Constant repairs and cleaning and upkeep we know full well will need repeated before we can even enjoy the fruit of our labor. Words like tiresome, same-old, banal and old-hat drip around us like raindrops of molasses.  How do we maneuver through monotony? How do we master living on this plain of the mundane?

We invite the vibrant, living, Spirit of God in to battle the bland. 

We request He put a new song in our mouth (Psalm 40:3). To turn our grumbling and sighing into praise. Firing up some inspirational music, routine tasks morph into a time of powerful worship. 

We petition God to make Himself known in the commonplace. Then watch for God sightings: the flash of a bright red cardinal against a dreary winter landscape; an unexpected hug from a child or friend; a timely Word on the radio or screen. God displays His presence and love to us a thousand ways if we only pay attention.

In this undistracting landscape, we cruise the day in conversational prayer with Him. Sharing every thought, emotion, concern, hope. Pausing for quiet moments as we posture our spirits wide open to hear Him. Don’t we love when our own children spend time with us in this way? So does He.

We ask God how we can brighten the day of another. Where is a kind word or deed most needed. Then follow through, our spirits uplifted along with the receiver.

We employ this less hectic time to study and dig deeper into Scripture. Carve out chunks of time to meditate; or, meditate on a passage all day long (Psalm 119:97). For His Word revives our soul (Psalm 19:7).

We don’t know details about the life of Jesus between the age of twelve when He hung out with temple teachers, displaying wisdom well beyond His years (Luke 2:46-47), and the beginning of His ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23). We know He “grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). And, in all likelihood, worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3).  During this age span, He was considered a young man and free to participate in all areas of Jewish community life. And also responsible for observing Jewish ritual law, traditions and ethics. So, much transpired during those eighteen years.

However. Is it possible there were stretches when carpentry tasks became humdrum? More sanding. More cutting. Repairing results from a hasty measurement. Do you suppose a young Jesus ever tired of sharpening tools, sweeping up wood chips, and wiping off sawdust that continuously covered everything? Might He have grown weary of grumpy, never-satisfied customers? The thought brings a smile to our faces as our hearts realize, in His humanness, perhaps Jesus experienced, and therefore understands, our times of lackluster days.

Hope grows as we recognize that now, as our powerful Savior, Jesus can convert the boring into glory. The monotonous into exciting. The mundane into extraordinary. By transforming our perspective and purpose, though we continue to accomplish everyday life, we are transported in our spirit to the high places (Psalm 18:33). We perform within the vibrancy of His presence. And we meander the monotone in a swirl of colorful peace and joy only He can provide. 

Photo by Lewis Meyers on Unsplash