Ruined for the Ordinary

In my Perspectives Course (www.perspectives.org) there were several people who gave their testimonies of what Perspectives taught them. One college girl said, “This class will ruin you.” The leader took that phrase a little further by saying, “This class will ruin you for the ordinary.” I found myself excited to ask the Lord for this, but also very scared.

I have always enjoyed doing things that were exciting, thrilling and adventuresome. Yet I also have grown to enjoy a predictable life with much routine. This statement reminded me how much I desire to be a part of things that are out of the ordinary. But, that same week I had to wrestle with giving up stability as I define it: a Pottery Barn home with room for everyone, a good school that my kids can stay at until they graduate, a car that works, a job that is reliable and a community for me to participate in.

You see I have given up the right to control my life. I believe that God is much more capable in organizing the experiences that I have and the environment that my family is to be raised. With having given up the control of my life, are times when the realization comes that I am holding too tightly to a dream, a hope, a wish. My prayer became, “Lord, ruin me for the ordinary.” I want to look back on my life and my family’s life and see exciting adventures. But with that my life will probably not look like what I define as stable. I have prayed that the Lord would make me okay with that.

Two sites to check out if you are interested in being "ruined for the ordinary.



www.perspectives.com
www.wreckedfortheordinary.com