No Insignificant Efforts

He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade, stayed with them and worked. // Acts 18:2-3

Piles of laundry, stacks of moving boxes to unpack, dinner to prepare, a spiritual life to nourish, children to raise to adulthood . . . part of me wistfully wanted the power to snap my fingers and get from here—the messy state of my life—to there—the “good part” where all things are accomplished—in an instant.

Ordinary life can be so ordinary. Skipping the mundane and the challenges sounds appealing. I daydream about accomplishing grand things or having life-changing conversations . . . only to be snapped back to reality by a cry of, “Mom, I need more toilet paper!” coming from the bathroom.

I sigh, bring toilet paper to the child in need, and grumble, “Why doesn’t anyone replace the toilet paper?!”

Many of the small things in my life as a wife and mother seem insignificant, but every moment matters and every day weaves into God’s plan for my life. It turns out that the work of the present moment is necessary, even good and holy, when offered to the Lord in prayer.

I have to believe that Saint Paul figured out this secret about the holy ordinary while he was in Corinth. Before he spent time preaching, traveling, and exchanging letters with growing Christian communities, Saint Paul spent time making tents.

That time spent working side-by-side with Aquila and Priscilla made history. Perhaps his tent-making time is not as memorable as being knocked to the ground by Jesus or as inspirational as the quotable lines in his letters. Yet the writer of Acts found it significant enough to include in the story.

Perhaps Saint Paul anticipated the many discussions with non-believers he would have. And maybe he felt impatient at times, waiting on the fulfillment of the Lord’s will. If he did, he didn’t let those feelings get in the way of the present moment.

Today I’m looking at my duties with inspiration from Saint Paul. Pray with me today for our hearts and minds to be more fully present to the people and duties God places before us. No effort is insignificant in His eyes.