Mundane Joy

On Doing Hard Things

My Dear Lovelians & Lifers,

There is a truth I now know and have been processing for some time to the point where I could not yet put pen to paper. This truth lies behind the concept of doing hard things.

Original image credit to Emma Simpson

Until recently, I didn’t think I had a problem with the whole idea. I am a hard worker after all and not adverse in the slightest to getting my hands dirty. But I realize now doing hard things can have many definitions. It can mean repetitive, mundane work that’s not all that exciting. It could also mean accepting a position that in all honesty does not at all sound important or appear that way to others.

I have had two different people now encourage me in this area by relating their experiences. Through them I learned joy can be found amidst the mundane. Continuously putting effort into a task where the end result really has very little to do with me and is not at all a glorious representation of my potential is the fertilizer my soul needs to grow and be a better human. There is a fine line between desiring God’s best and self-centeredness. I wasn’t aware of how fine.

One of my friends calls this mundane joy ‘vocational ministry’. This is Christian-ese for partnering with Jesus and allowing Him to guide a person into encounters and conversations with others in the workplace, or the place where the majority of time is spent (I’m looking at you stay-at-home parents). While either of these may not occur every day, in fact they most likely won’t happen every day, it is the openness and availability that makes the greatest difference. Mundane is not a synonym of meaningless, as fantasy would suggest, but rather of life. And there is incredible joy to be found here. I’ve tasted it.

If I am to fall in love with life, which defines a Lovelian, I must first put aside the fantasy lens that trains me to see only the monumental moments in life as important.

Pause. Go watch The Holiday or even Dolphin Tale for that matter. My personal favorite is Anne of Green Gables with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie. These films remind me of the wonder and beauty and joy that come from falling in love with life as it is rather than what I wish it was. I will say, for this exercise, The Holiday is the most relevant as it is set in modern day and also because not all of us will end up with a microphone in our hand.

This isn’t to say fantasy is evil and should be cancelled or boycotted. It has its place. Frankly, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the inspiration it gave me while I was growing up. But there is a reason magic and superheroes do not exist in reality the way they do in stories. Which, when I think about it, is incredibly encouraging because it means life can be found without them, dragons included.

I think I need to do a bit of wandering. Do hard things. Things that make me uncomfortable. I know this won’t be my forever, but I don’t think I’ll ever find contentment in the life I know will bring true joy without a little exploration...

…Come wander with me,

Olivia

P.S. Take it slow friends. I still watch and enjoy my favorite series as the episodes are released. I just see them a little differently now.