Yesterday morning, I woke up from a dream about pancakes. Golden brown. Fluffy inside. Crispy buttery edges. Real maple syrup. It felt warm and comforting, although a little disappointing when I realized it was only a dream.
This morning was different. No warm, fuzzy dream. Instead, the reality of me walking the backyard with a pooper-scooper, pondering how life can move so quickly from delightful to deeply unglamorous.
And honestly, that feels a lot like faith sometimes.
There are moments in our spiritual lives that feel rich and inspiring. Worship moves us. Prayer feels alive. Scripture practically glows off the page. We feel close to God and energized by grace.
Then there are the other days. The dishes still need to be washed. Bills need to be paid. The dog still leaves “surprises” in the yard. Let’s be honest, most of life isn’t lived in dramatic highs, spiritual or otherwise, but in ordinary routines and responsibilities.
Yet Scripture reminds us that even the mundane matters to God.
The Apostle Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)..
“Whatever you do.” Not just the meaningful things. Not just the spiritual things. Whatever you do. And in Colossians 3, Paul says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Another “whatever.”
Apparently, even pooper-scooping can fall under “whatever,” although I’m not sure how to do it for the glory of God or as working for the Lord. Does humming a hymn as I’m doing it count?
Humor aside, I think that what Paul is trying to tell us is that faith isn’t sustained by dramatic spiritual moments. If that were the case, most of us would be left without much faith. Instead, faith grows in consistency in the mundane.
The truth is, most discipleship happens in ordinary spaces. Kitchens. Backyards. Carpools. Laundry rooms. Offices. Waiting rooms. Over the phone. Over cups of coffee.
The sacred often hides inside the routine. And sometimes the holiest thing you can do is simply the next thing. Even if it smells a little unpleasant. But, ponder if there isn’t a way to do it for the glory of God. After all, pooper-scooping led me this morning to 1 Corinthians 10 and Colossians 3 … and to this meditation.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for meeting me in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. Help me to serve you faithfully in both the joyful and the mundane. Teach me to find purpose in small things and grace in routines. Whether my day feels like pancakes or pooper-scoopers, may I do all things for your glory. Amen.
