“But if we more rightly understand that by faith we do not hold truths so much as we are held by Truth, then faith calls us into our experiences and is a way of being present to them, a way of entering into their depths with trust and thanksgiving. Faith calls us not to preclude our experiences but to include them in the Good News. To what does faith call us through reflection on our experiences? Primarily we are called to realize in ourselves the Good News: that God is lovingly present to us here and now. We are called to search out in our ordinary and confusing personal and communal history the truth that we glibly affirm in theory: that God’s life flows into our life.”
– Joseph F. Schmidt, Praying Our Experiences
God’s life is present with yours right now, actually flows into yours as you chew on your fingernails, scramble to work, cast a quick smile over your shoulder, wipe up milk, pack the moving box, wonder where the money will come from, remember you are not a machine, slow down, breathe.
Your experiences are not separate from the good news of God. For — regardless where you find yourself in this moment, this day — it is indeed good news that you are not alone. After all, his name is Emanuel, God with us.
This is every ordinary day miracle.
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Joining the Five Minute Friday community today with the prompt ORDINARY.
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This is Day 11 of Right Here. Throughout October, I’m joining with a community of other bloggers (over 1,500 strong! with The Nester), writing for 31 days about the same topic. To find all posts in 31 Days of Right Here, click here, or see the listing below.
To continue receiving these daily words, subscribe to this blog on the sidebar at left, click here to Like Draw Near on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @AshleyMLarkin. I’m immensely grateful to share the journey with you.
POSTS IN THE SERIES
An introduction: Welcome to 31 Days of Right Here
Day 1: For You, Too
Day 2: Fear’s Invitation
Day 3: My Portion
Day 4: Five Minute Friday – Write
Day 5: Rise and Shine
Day 6: My Joys Mount As Do the Birds
Day 7: A Mother’s Fierce Love
Day 8: When Life’s A Mad Rush – How To Slow Time
Day 9: The Fight For Right Here Told Through Two Tales of Epic Whining (Part I)
Day 10: The Fight For Right Here Told Through Two Tales of Epic Whining (Part II)
Day 11: Five Minute Friday: Ordinary
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
* This is every day ordinary miraculousness. *
This series of yours Ashley feeds me, every day. From the bottom of my heart, love and thanksgiving.
Yes, God with us is extraordinary…wonderful post!
It is the simplest and profoundest truth I know. Thank you, Dionne.
Dear Ashley
Our God is not the Great “I AM” for nothing! He lives in the present and wants us to do so too; but in His present, that. abiding moment to moment in Jesus, learning lesson from the past and leaving our future in His hands.
Blessings XX
Mia
I love that, Mia. Jesus: “God with us.” God: the Great “I AM.” Isn’t that amazing how God’s word and character reinforces itself over and over again, through language and translation, through time forever?
Good reminder..to search out our ordinary. Miracles may come in the guise of the what we consider mundane. Great perspectives here… thanks friend.
Searching out the ordinary is such a different way of living, isn’t it, Dea?
Your experiences are not separate from the good news of God. Oh girl… there you go again… making me catch my breath and be ever so thankful!
Thank you dear Ashley for this very real reminder, this miraculous Truth!!!
Beautiful photography; are you following your mama’s foot prints or did she do that wonderful pic of nature? Love your words…..
Grandma and you, too.
Sent from my iPad
Wow, Grandma. Thank you. What a lovely compliment. The photography here (some shots better than others) is always mine, unless otherwise stated. That Mama — now, her photography is of another world entirely. :) I love you, and thank you for your dear words. Xoxo
Thank you for the reminder of how miraculous the ordinary can be. Beautiful post!
Thank you so much, David.
So simple and yet so profound.. if only I could remember to savor the miracle of the every day. So proud of you for doing the hard work of writing about the messy, the small, the amazing stuff of life right here. Keep writing, Ashley! I’ve been crazy blessed by your offering. THANK YOU!
But Alicia, you do! I am continually amazed in the ways you see spiritual truth in the everyday moments. I’m inspired by your journey and the ways you keep coming back when you begin to resent or stray from what is right here. I love you, friend. Thank you for your encouragement!