Called to Ordinariness
Dave Heinze of DeLand, FL, USA
The temple shall be dedicated to the pursuit of peace. It shall be for reconciliation and for healing of the spirit. -Doctrine and Covenants 156:5a
I believe that who we are in the ordinary moments profoundly reflects our inner longing to be present to the extraordinary beauty, surprise, and creative potential that life holds. For many years, I have longed to live a life of ordinariness-not in a trivial sense, but in the way a grateful heart approaches each day. There’s something spiritually freeing about shedding the skin of expectation-not letting our lives be defined by others, by roles, or by traditions, but recognizing their place in our formation.
So I have found myself in recent years redefining expressions of the spiritual walk. Now, in these early years of retirement, I am entering what I am calling the practicum of my spiritual sojourn. I have sermonized such a life for decades-a life of singing growth and beauty into our incredibly interconnected world, a life of accessing an inner divine wisdom that finds grace and learning in suffering and turmoil-that listens and listens and…listens.
Feeling called to the ordinary certainly does not place me among the extraordinary. It simply gives footing to be present to those amazing moments of clarity encountered in a bird’s song, a night sky, a heartfelt conversation, a mundane task, or in a combination of notes that suddenly make sense on my guitar. And perhaps ordinary time is not defined as those spaces between extraordinary events, rather the reverse. Living fully in ordinary time gives space for numinous, mystical moments of wisdom, spirit, and soul to break into consciousness-if we are paying attention.
I suspect there are as many approaches to such a life as there are people-simplicity, routine, adventure, focused work, spiritual practice, activism, community, art, music, or parenting, to name a few. But common to all these approaches are encounters with our true selves, selves becoming more fully realized and divinely blessed in each authentic, ordinary moment.
Prayer Phrase
“…all things in God and God in all things” (Mechthild of Magdeburg).
Spiritual Practice
Reflecting on Presence
Breathe deeply and become present to the Presence with you here and now. Take a few moments in the silence to reflect prayerfully on the following questions:
Where have you been aware of God’s presence in your life?
What is God’s invitation to you in this story?
How do you desire to be more open to God’s presence and invitation tomorrow?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
