March 9 — God’s Presence in the Ordinary
When we awaken to the presence of God in the ordinary, we find that no moment is too small to be sacred. Barbara Brown Taylor
Gregg’s Reflection
Some of the deepest encounters I’ve had with God didn’t happen in a church service, on a mountaintop, or during a silent retreat. They happened while stacking firewood, washing dishes, or walking the dogs on a frosty morning. Early in my journey, I thought spiritual life was something set apart from “everyday” life — holy time and ordinary time. But over the years, I’ve learned they are one and the same.
This understanding became especially real during our years in the off-grid cabin in Colorado. Without the constant hum of modern life, I noticed the Spirit’s presence in the rhythm of hauling wood, in the warmth of the sun through the windows, in the sound of wind in the pines. Ordinary tasks became occasions for communion. They were no less holy than my time in prayer — in fact, they often became prayer themselves.
The indwelling presence of God means there is no separation between sacred and secular. Every moment becomes an opportunity to practice awareness, gratitude, and love. When we carry this awareness into the ordinary, the kitchen table becomes an altar, and the day’s work becomes an offering.
Scripture
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Surely the Lord is in this place — and I did not know it.
Genesis 28:16
Ancient Quotes
It is not what you do that makes you holy, but the spirit in which you do it.
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, 4th Conversation
Great works do not always come our way, but at all times we can do little things with great devotion.
Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Ch. 1
Modern Quotes
The great spiritual task facing us is to live faithfully in the actual circumstances of our lives.
Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved, p. 128
When we awaken to the presence of God in the ordinary, we find that no moment is too small to be sacred.
Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World, p. xv
Journaling Prompts
- When have you sensed God’s presence in a very ordinary moment?
- How might you bring more awareness of God into your daily routines?
- What “ordinary” activity in your life could you reframe as an act of worship?
- How could gratitude open your eyes to the sacredness of the mundane?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 10 Reflection: Divine Indwelling