I am in a time of the ordinary. I recently was doing a mental inventory of why things felt “dull”. Now many would say that this is a warning sign for depression, and that I should be careful of my environment, but I thought a little bit more about it, and found that I’m just in an ordinary time. I have gotten so used to times of drama, times when either the mountaintop or the valley were so much the norm, I had forgot what it was to be in the ordinary. We seem to thrive on reaching for the mountaintop and fear the times in the valley. We forget that most of our life is spent living in the ordinary. I have been finding I like this time of the ordinary, it’s somewhat disconcerting, but still, to have a time of safety, a time when God just lets me function in the day to day, that is a gift for this time. I also think that I’m in this place because God is answering your prayers for me, I’ve said in earlier weeks that I’ve run out of those deep heartfelt prayers, and found that you’ve been saying those prayers for me, I do indeed thank you for that gift. I am finding who the Church is in a new and quiet way. She is what happens when the drama starts to lessen and the daily tasks just need done, when there are no exciting tasks, but ordinary tasks. She is the prayers daily said for others well being, the setting by the bedside listening, or walking the son down to a therapy session. She is that Mother who cares for our daily needs, cleans our clothes, does our dishes, and then sets down to hear how our day has been. She supports us, and encourages us, and is there, day in and day out, loving us. What a wonderful thing to be held in her arms. I am safe. I am loved. I am in Her arms.

Dennis