In considering Rosemarie's post on being present, it made me think about the circumstances we are present to, whether they are ordinary or extraordinary.
What makes certain circumstances extraordinary? We encounter ordinary circumstances each and every day; yet, some circumstances just seem extraordinary. I was recently on a trip to New York where it was asked, as a matter of the court, to define "extraordinary" circumstances. It made me think about how extraordinary differs from ordinary.
Extraordinary occurs when a child takes a first step; extraordinary occurs when you receive a job offer after waiting many months; extraordinary occurs when a teenager and a parent begin to have a meaningful conversation for the first time in months. Then there are the ordinary circumstances. Sitting down in the morning to enjoy a cup of coffee and read through the paper - either online or the old fashioned paper version- seems ordinary. Getting in the car and having it start up each and every morning as you head to school or work or the gym or your church. Seems ordinary, but some days these could be extraordinary!
In leadership for example, extraordinary leaders are really ordinary people being willing to do extraordinary things. The Saints, from the Catholic Church, were ordinary people doing extraordinary work in the name of Jesus. In certain sports we see ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I don't know about you, but I only recently shot a 54 playing 9 holes and Tiger Woods shot a 48 playing 9 holes at age 3! That is extraordinary!
So in our ordinary world - consider what extraordinary things can you do yourself that set you apart from the rest. Let's try to make each circumstance we encounter extraordinary!
Questions to Ponder:
• Identify at least one extraordinary circumstance that occurred each day this week. What made it extraordinary? Who were the people involved?
• What steps can you take to make more of your ordinary circumstances extraordinary?
Extraordinary occurs when a child takes a first step; extraordinary occurs when you receive a job offer after waiting many months; extraordinary occurs when a teenager and a parent begin to have a meaningful conversation for the first time in months. Then there are the ordinary circumstances. Sitting down in the morning to enjoy a cup of coffee and read through the paper - either online or the old fashioned paper version- seems ordinary. Getting in the car and having it start up each and every morning as you head to school or work or the gym or your church. Seems ordinary, but some days these could be extraordinary!
In leadership for example, extraordinary leaders are really ordinary people being willing to do extraordinary things. The Saints, from the Catholic Church, were ordinary people doing extraordinary work in the name of Jesus. In certain sports we see ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I don't know about you, but I only recently shot a 54 playing 9 holes and Tiger Woods shot a 48 playing 9 holes at age 3! That is extraordinary!
So in our ordinary world - consider what extraordinary things can you do yourself that set you apart from the rest. Let's try to make each circumstance we encounter extraordinary!
Questions to Ponder:
• Identify at least one extraordinary circumstance that occurred each day this week. What made it extraordinary? Who were the people involved?
• What steps can you take to make more of your ordinary circumstances extraordinary?
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