In every day there's an opportunity to be present. Each day of our lives build upon the next, and from this progress happens. But sometimes this progress is overlooked. Particularly when each day seems like the next, and our day to day is mundane. Yet it's often in the underwhelming seasons of life that we grow the most. In the mundane seasons, good habits can be formed; character and virtue developed. This requires discipline and diligence. We have to do the work. It's hard because mundane seasons of life are just that, they're boring. It's easy to feel overlooked, and can be challenging to stay motivated. To hope for good things. This is faith. It's believing without seeing. It's trusting without fully understanding. It makes me think of pointillism art. If you don't know, pointillism is an art technique in which a bunch of tiny dots of color create an image. Up close, you just see each tiny little dot. But when you take a step back, then you see how each dot contributes to the big picture. And it's pretty amazing. The process to create the final picture is done one dot at a time. Here's an example below. I think of our lives in a similar way. Each day is a dot. Up close, we don't see how it contributes much to our lives. After all, it's just a singular dot. But when combined with other ordinary dots, a bigger picture takes form.
On the topic of painting, I recently learned how to do dip nails. If you've never done this before, it's basically dipping your nails in a colored powder to create a polished look. It's a multi-step process. Despite reading the directions, and watching tutorials, I had no idea what I was doing the first time I tried it. There was this fear of messing up, and doubts about my abilities. Often when we try something new, these are common feelings. Yet knowing this, the fear of failure was still holding me back. I realized I had to just start. Into the powder went my nail. The process of dip nails starts with a base coat, followed by a layer of powder. This cycle repeats two to three times. After applying the third layer, I looked down at my nails skeptically. It was as if someone had taken pink sand and glued them onto my nails. It was messy and not pretty to look at. Needless to say, I was not optimistic.
Instantly doubt crept back into my mind, and I questioned if I was even doing it right. But following the steps, I continued. Next I applied what's called the activator coat. This essentially hardens and bonds the powder to the nails. With the activator on, my nail texture smoothed and the color appeared. Then came the top coat. I put it on and my nails became glossy. I walked over to the window to get a better look. To my surprise, my dip nails looked good. When I held my nails up to the light, they glistened magnificently. While it's a silly story, I think it exemplifies the importance of embracing the process. Yes it may be messy, frustrating, and you just want to rush to the end. But there's work that needs to happen first. There's a strong foundation that needs to be laid down, and then it can be built upon. This could be in relation to your faith life, your relationships, your career etc.
For me, I've recognized God must be at the center of my life, which can only happen from having a relationship with Him. The progress of growing closer to God can seem messy and frustrating, much like the first steps of dip nails. But in laying down a good foundation, through hard work and devotion, you're preparing yourself for your next season. What I am learning is that if God is first in my life, then future relationships, career opportunities, and my vocation will all build upon that. It's mysterious how God can take the ordinary work we do and turn it into something extraordinary. Growth in character and habit is a process. My advice, embrace the mundane seasons of life. Work with diligence in the ordinary.
You'll look back later and realize they were a necessary part of your journey.
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