Sunday 1 April 2018

One thing.

Do not ask your children, 
To strive for the extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable, 
But it is a way to foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
And marvel of an ordinary life. 
Show them the joy of tasting, 
Tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry,
When pets and people die.
Show them the intimate pleasure,
In the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself. 
-- William Martin --

The Bible has a narrative too,
Along this line.
One is named Mary,
And the other is her sister Martha.
While Martha is busy with the preparation.
Mary sits still by Jesus' side. 
One is consumed with endless activities.
The other submits to what is most ordinary.
We all know how the story ends.
Mary chose what is better, 
And it will not be taken from her.

The lesson for Martha and all,
Is not about the preparation of a feast.
But it is about preparation for life. 
And life is not in the mindless pursuit.
Neither is it in the striving for the extraordinary.
Life is how we make the most of the ordinary,
And turn them into experiences to cherish.

If we can see the world in a grain of sand, 
And heaven in a wildflower.
If we can hold infinity in the palm of our hand,
And eternity in an hour. (William Blake)
We will then be able to understand,
What Mary understood that day. 
Life is not made up of many things but one.
It is not about striving for many, 
But it is about developing just one. 

For what shall it profit a man, 
If he gains the whole world,
But suffer the loss of his soul. 

Every ordinary encounter,
Jesus made it extraordinary.
He multiplied the loaves and fishes.
He transformed the woman at the well.
He discipled twelve to change the world.
He rejected kingdoms to rule hearts.
And He overcame death,

By living every day in simple obedience. 
Indeed, if we make the ordinary come alive for our children. 

The extraordinary will take care of itself. 
Cheerz.

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