In the Christian liturgical calendar "Ordinary Time" can be defined as, "...two distinct segments which together comprise the majority of the Christian Year: the time between Epiphany and Lent, and the time between Pentecost and Advent. Ordinary Time presents us with an ongoing opportunity to witness to the living Lord who makes all things new."
This is Ordinary Time at the office.
There is such a thing as "Ordinary Time" in the mission world as well. It's the part of ministry that isn't glamorous, newsletter worthy, and doesn't earn an extra special rating on the kingdom expansion meter. It's called getting up and showing up. It's going to the office or the village or the medical clinic or the hangar or the cockpit even though it's the last thing you want to do and then faithfully doing the mundane things that are the grease of "thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." It's reflecting Jesus as we can, where we can, when we can, to the degree enabled and empowered by His Spirit to do so. It's falling over and getting back up. Again. It is the never-ending practice of giving and receiving grace.
And with that come God's gifts of beauty, distraction, creation, and renewal. It's cyclical, it's seasonal on multiple conceptual layers and, through His grace, we have the blessing of a new moment to follow each past moment until our future moments become eternity.
Here are photos from some Ordinary Time in and around Graham, North Carolina.
Local Car Show
Hike on the Haw River
Reconnnection with a baseball friend: Xavier Fernandez, Birmingham Barons
Backyard Birds
Mac-N-Cheese Dogs at a Sock Puppet's Game
Thank you for being part of our lives and ministry in Ordinary and Extra-Ordinary Times. We serve at His pleasure through your generosity, friendship, prayers, and encouragement.
We are so blessed to have you as part of our past moments, this moment, and the moments to come.
