Magnificent in the Mundane

Adequate. Who wants to follow, write about, vote for...somebody whose day is filled with merely adequate responsibilities? Who wants to be known for doing merely adequate work? Yet the mundane surrounds most of us. We take out the garbage and clean our houses, and maybe our daily jobs are nothing to stir envy in others. The President of the United States gets a lot of press. Who cares about a janitor in some obscure office park? Movie star, or mall security guard?

Let's get it straight. Where the glory lies is not ultimately in the job or responsibility, but in the person with that job or responsibility. We've all known U.S. Presidents who were largely forgettable (no matter how many times we try to recite their names from Washington to Obama, some keep slipping our minds), while that janitor we see as we walk to our office is always smiling, saying hello, & following up with us about something we apparently said but don't even remember saying. Regardless of how many people know us, versus how many know the President, if we do our jobs with excellence and joy, if we show love and concern to all we meet, if we sweep our floors or take out our garbage with gratitude for what we have--we can be magnificent in those moments.

Most of us are more like that poor widow who put a meager amount of money into the church till than like the rich people who offer their vast sums. If we give of ourselves with the same heart that she did, God will honor that far more than He'll honor the rich man or the powerful woman whose focus is mainly on themselves. For all time, God has lifted this widow up to a place of high honor. He didn't give the same honor to those who gave far more. Likewise, He'll bestow greater honor on me or you for doing our "lowly" jobs with excellence & a loving heart than He will to a CEO who gives little out of all he has been given.

New blog name

See the blog description for more...

This blog is about...

... what (I believe) should be and shouldn't be, and what is and isn't--especially the extremes of good and evil around us. It's about choices: choices to excel, to meander along, or go with gusto down the path of destruction. It's about God, Satan, angels, demons, and humanity--all those forces involved in making life & eternity great or terrible (depending on where we decide to put our hats). Each day we choose to go down one of these roads. This is where my dilemma lies in coming up with a final title for this site.

I look back on my life and I consider where I have come to in who I am and what I do, in the impact I've made, and how much I've burned energy in love and joy and God-serving. Is there a divergence in this blog's mission and my current pursuits? Regardless, that mission--as much as I desire the easy path--won't leave me. I won't be at peace until I excel at following it wholeheartedly, & encourage others to do likewise

Updated my blog's name (final? maybe)

(From my updated blog description):

"Ok, I decided to 'jazz up' my blog's name a bit. I think I like this update. What do you think? I wanted to still keep the idea of God being the one who pulls us up toward greater heights, & the stretching comes from Him pulling us from the challenges we face each day in the world (both those the world puts upon us, & those we bring upon ourselves). More to come. It is (as I am) definitely a work in progress."

(As is so typical with me, I can't say I'm fully satisfied with the new name. After all, instead of "stretched" I keep thinking there might be better verbs. And "stratosphere"? Should I use "summit," or perhaps "spectacular"? Well, I guess I could vacillate on & on. Anyway, if this new title hits you & in a particularly good or bad way, please let me know. I do know that my "Much More or Much Less?" seemed a bit flat.)

Michael Harrison's e-devotion: a different way to spend July 4th

Michael Harrison's e-devotion: a different way to spend July 4th: "James 5:16 NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a ri..."