An Ordinary Life?

I think many of us, in our heart of hearts, long to live an extraordinary life. One that makes a large and visible impact on this world for the kingdom of God. 

When we are young, this desire is front and center as we chase after ways to accomplish this. 

In our older years, this desire is front and center as we wonder if we somehow missed the path, for we look back and see little to nothing that appears to us extraordinary. 

Why am I thinking about this? Partly because I’m getting older. But also because of a recent confluence of ideas. 

I recently read this biography: 

What? You’ve never heard of Katie Barnwell? She only revolutionized the way the scriptures are translated around the world, leading to who knows how many people who have been taught from and learned to read the Bible for themselves in their mother language! 

She did something extraordinary. 

Or did she? 

Reading this book, I discovered that she does not see anything she did as extraordinary. Even now, near the end of her life, she sees herself as having just done her job and walked in her calling. 

Calling. 

I recently watched The Trinity Forum’s conversation with Karen Swallow Prior, who talked about her new book, You Have a Calling. I immediately ordered it. It’s not a long book. I read it over a couple of days. It gave me much to think about. 

Karen’s point in this book is that calling is, for most of us, not necessarily a big, visible, or even what others might call a “productive” thing. It’s ordinary. It’s often relational, unable to be quantified or completely defined. 

Which is exactly what Katie Barnwell was doing all those years she worked in the field of Bible translation. Yes, she is an amazing linguist. But much of her work was often relational, bringing in local people to help her get the nuances of language right while also preserving the essence of God’s word as it is written. She still defines her work as ordinary. The day-to-day working and living and using the gifts God has given. 

For me, all this melded together with the book of James, where I’m camped right now. In chapter one, James talks about how the endurance through faith renders us complete, lacking in nothing. How those who persevere will receive the crown of life. This theme of longevity is also clear in both books. 

We live on this earth. We desire to use to gifts God has given in the path He has opened before us. We encounter difficulties. Every day. And through faith, we endure, knowing that God loves and cares for us, that He will guide and direct our steps. 

I love the quote by Friedrich Nietzsche: 

A long obedience in the same direction. Ordinary life. Endurance. Not chasing fame or praise or even acknowledgment. Walking with our eyes fixed on Jesus and letting Him lead the way and accomplish what He desires. Even if all we do is serve our family, our church, our community. Even if all we do is pray and love and clean up after everyone. 

Yes, ordinary can become extraordinary, as in the case of Katie Barnwell. But perhaps we have it wrong. Perhaps an ordinary life with Jesus is extraordinary simply because of who He is and not because of anything we do. 

Do you sometimes lament an ordinary life? Has the Lord shown you glimpses of extraordinary results from your ordinary obedience?