quiet monotony

Quiet monotony. It is exactly how it sounds. A quiet life. A monotonous life. In many ways, it’s not the life we want to live. We want to live extravagant, explosive lives filled with non-stop memories and fun. Maybe that’s not you, but for me, that’s how I envisioned my so-called 20s to be. Many people talk about how the 20s are your years of discovery. The years where you mess around, have fun, and make as many memories as possible before the “burdens” of settling down become a reality. They say that quiet monotony means you’re boring.
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I guess that means I’m boring.

The reality of my 20s has begun to settle-in that most of my days from this point on will be spent in this quiet monotony. To grow in this season is to understand that. It is to see beauty in the so-called “monotonous” rhythms of life. Many days, I wish that I could live this lavish and explosive life the world offers. But for what will that last? For what god will that serve?

The Lord asks us to surrender ALL our life to Him, not just the moments we are in mission or ministering to our community or worshipping on a Sunday. In the quiet monotony, the rhythms of life, we can find beauty. It’s in the inbetweens of His mercies I have found true excitement and joy. It’s in the meals I share with loved ones. The runs where I can see glimpses of His creation. His glory that is revealed in His word. In the drives to work as I pray or worship. The songs I get to sing with brothers and sisters. The masterfully painted patterns of the clouds on a warm Texas day. The walks I take in a local park. The small dances I partake in as I vacuum my room. The gentle swing of my knife as I prepare ingredients to cook. He is in the midst of it all, and in the silence and solitude, the quiet monotonous moments, we are given a chance to step back and see that glory.

Why do we want such exciting lives? Why do we feel like every moment of our life needs to feel like a movie scene? This excitement is blinding. They say slow and steady wins the race, right? So why do we try to rush? Why do we seek our own timing? In a personal admission, it’s because of my own pride. It’s because I want to be king of my life. But in reality, it was never my life. It was always His, a gift that He gave to me.

In the quiet monotony, in the rhythms of life. He is present. He is present in it all. If the God who loves us and sent His son for us is present in it all, then in reality, no moment is quiet. He is always speaking to us. Whether it be a gentle whisper or a crashing thunder, every moment is an opportunity to listen. How could any moment then be monotonous? Every moment is another opportunity for Him to display His grace, His mercy. His love. It’s paradoxical really. People see our lives as quiet and monotonous, but only the ears of the Christian are those that can truly hear, and only the lives of the Christian are those that are eternally exciting. We call it quiet monotony, but to live with God is so far from being quiet and monotonous. Our mercies are new every single day. So in actuality, no day is ever quiet or monotonous. What a privilege and blessing that is.