Ordinary Time

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24)

In many Christian churches, we are now in “Ordinary Time.” Actually, this title refers to “counted” or “ordered” time, not “plain” or “boring” time. Yet it does fall between major church seasons like Christmas and Lent, Easter and Advent, etc. Ordinary Time just seems fitting for the month of February to me since this winter period does seem to be filled with many ordinary days. For many, snow is on the ground but has grown dirty with time, the novelty like the New Year wearing off. I’m lucky it’s my birthday month, and that of my two granddaughters. Still, the time in between holidays is long, save for Valentine’s Day (and if you don’t have a Valentine, well, even longer), darkness falls early, and many experience seasonal affective disorder, or simply put, the blues.

Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary

One of my all-time favorite quotes delivered by Julia Roberts in one of my favorite movies, “Steel Magnolias,” is, “I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.” It refers to the choice she makes to go through with a risky pregnancy despite her mother’s protests. Sometimes, we have to take a risk, put ourselves out there, to shake up an otherwise ordinary day. Maybe it means calling a friend, spending time playing with a child or grandchild, taking a hike, sending a care package, writing, singing, dancing, making a special meal…or simply setting a new goal or dreaming a new dream. Join me on the “Pollyanna” train and wake up every morning and thank God for all His blessings, then hope for the best, knowing it’s on its way.

Patiently Waiting…and Humbly Doing

Patience, as many of you know, is not one of my virtues, although I’m working on it, Lord knows. I am in a season of waiting for Pre-Production to start on my new movie, “The Jealous Son” and I’m so excited I don’t want to wait, I want to move lightning fast to get it done! But…it’s a collaboration and I must recognize others on my team have other important things happening in their lives. In other words, I must be less self-centered, looking beyond my wants and thinking of others…and practice humility (another tough thing to pray for!) Meanwhile, what can I do today while I wait? I can write a few more pages of my new book, clean a junk drawer, minister to another, taking advantage of the time I have that I will never get back again. Wow. I guess everything is in God’s timing after all.

Don’t Give in to Despair.

This is one of the main messages of our upcoming movie, The Jealous Son, a modern-day murder mystery based on Cain and Abel. In it, the mother (the Eve character, played by Catherine) has lost both her sons and must try to find a way to go on despite her pain and loss. We may not face such tragedies but our own real life circumstances may seem equally rough at times. It’s hard to stay upbeat when all you want to do is hide under the covers a few minutes…or a few hours longer. When you’re sick, or a loved one is suffering, or when you’re lonely and have nothing scheduled to look forward to until…well, spring. Or when you didn’t win that gold medal (or even a bronze), you didn’t get the job, the contract, the client, etc. But, these are the times when we have to ask God for help, double-down on our faith, and resolve not to give in or give up because…

The Best is Yet to Come.

Jesus promises, no matter what we are going through, that we will be rewarded in our eternal lives to come…and on top of that, we can find His Kingdom here on earth if we search for Him by helping others or simply looking for it. The church wears green (priests, pastors, etc. all don green vestments and altar cloths and such are in green) during Ordinary Time, I believe as a sign we all need to work on growing in our spirituality. Green is such an uplifting color, reminding us spring is on the way and soon tiny buds and shoots will sprout up from the frozen ground. And just like God waters these tender shoots, He will care for us too. We can find purpose and feel grateful for it if we but trust in His plan for us. As He told us, we just have to keep asking and receiving, seeking and finding, knocking and opening doors.

Dear Lord, please help me to remain happy, joyous and free in this day You have made, not wasting any time in doubt and despair, but spending every minute doing Your Will for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.