This may sound odd, but I find it odd that many people always have the need to be excited about something. Let me elaborate. I find it interesting that many people always need something extraordinary to be excited about. If it’s not going to Disneyland next week (which many have bored themselves of), then it’s their trip to Spain next month, or their skydiving date with their friend, or the lavish party they are throwing—with all the balloons, tassels, glitter, and glam one can imagine. Now first let me just say, none of these things are bad. They all sound very fun! Well, most haha. But every time I see someone end one extraordinary event and within days start talking about the next event they are planning and “so excited” about, I think to myself, “Why do I not get excited over such things? Why are they no different to me than any other ordinary way of passing time?”

And I realized that’s just it. Nothing is really ordinary to me. Everything has beauty, everything has wonder in it. Waking up to a new day, drinking delicious coffee, hearing my son breathe as he sleeps, looking outside to see what kind of weather the day holds, picking up a current book and finding out the curious way that the writer will unfold the mysterious plot, or better yet—picking up the Word of God and hearing from God Himself (could that ever get old), taking a walk outside, feeling the warmth of my son’s embrace when he first wakes up and runs to me and hugs me and wants me to hold him for five minutes before he begins his day, feeding my son, watching him learn and grow, receiving phone calls from family and friends and listening to what news—or no news—they have to tell of, receiving a phone call from my husband and hearing his voice from the other side of the world, or just a text message with poetic love in its tone; not knowing who I might meet or what conversations I might have as I go out in the day (This was especially true when I used to work. Work was never a bore, but an adventure); sitting here and feeling my second child move and kick inside me as she grows in my womb (Okay, that’s somewhat extraordinary); going to bed at night and praying with my son, thanking God for another day; pondering, endlessly, why or how God even cares to hear from me; pondering creation, the Fall, redemption, and salvation.

Oh, skydiving would be fun, I have no doubt of that. Perhaps I will try it one day. But I do not need to. Traveling the world sounds the most fun. Imagine all the different foods and smells and sights and cultures and music and architecture and lands to be enjoyed. I love when I get to travel. But I am not bored where I’m at. I do not need Disneyland or plane tickets or lavish events to look forward to. Each day—each ordinary day—is a delightful adventure in itself. It is not that I do not get excited for things; it’s that I am always excited for each new day that I get to wake up and live—to laugh, love, learn, teach, eat, dance, read, write, sing. There are endless curiosities and discoveries and joys in the mundane. And this is life and excitement to me. This, perhaps, is gratitude.

So forgive me if I ever appear stoic about the extradinary planning of an upcoming event (I desired no lavish wedding. The small celebration of my husband and I’s marriage was joyous enough for me. I had found the one my soul loves ☺️). Forgive me if I do not care to spend my husband’s money on a Disney pass. Forgive me indeed if this writing has been offensive to thrill seekers in any way. I am not against thrill! I find roller coasters and climbing mountains and planes and ships all very fun! My point that I hope to have made is that these things are not needed to be satisfied in life. Rather than getting through the work week to live for the weekend, or sulking through the majority of the year to live for the next vacation, live now! See the joy and beauty and wonder in all that fills each and every day. You don’t have to give up the extraordinary thrills in life, but don’t live for them! As cliché as it sounds (and I hate clichés), look around you and see what blessings the Lord has placed right in front of your eyes. If you have a hard time seeing anything, be a blessing to someone else! There is more joy to be had in this, after all, than in receiving all the amusements in the world.

This wasn’t meant to sound preachy, but are merely my reflections on the paradox of never showing excitement because I’m excited for every day.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” -Psalm 118:24

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Maybe it’s more about contentment. If you’re single, are you content, or do you need a spouse to be happy? If you’re married, are you content, or do you need a child to be happy? If you have a son, are you content, or do you need a daughter (or vice versa) to be happy? If you work, are you content, or do you feel you need a different position or a different job to be happy? If you stay at home with your children, are you content, or do you feel the need to work to be happy? If no one acknowledges your achievements or skills or talents, are you content, or do you need praise and affirmation to be happy?

Those who do not believe the grass is always greener, but see the beauty and blessings before them, are who I find most admirable, and believe are the most content. The grass is not always greener. Those who think so will never be satisfied. Those who believe, “If only I had this…” will, upon gaining “this,” soon enough believe they need something else to be happy.

The secret is, we have been given all we need for all the fullness of joy in life—knowing and loving and being loved by Christ. With Him, we lack no good thing.

**(The subject of loss—of losing a dear loved one whom you already have and cherish—that is a different topic, one for which my heart grieves dearly for. Though Christ is still the comfortor in such a situation, losing someone is not the same as merely wishing you had something you never had. Loss is an entirely different focus altogether, and it is not what I am referring to in this discussion.)

But for those who are not currently facing loss, and are merely dissatisfied with life, consider:

“Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” -Psalm 34:10

“Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But with food and clothing we shall be content.” -1 Tim. 6:6-7

“I have learned in whatever circumstances I am in to be content. I know how to get along with humble means, and I know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -Phil. 4:12-13

(Notice the context of that last part. Paul is not talking about achieving your dreams.)

“So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” -1 Cor. 10:31

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But how does one simply be content without always wanting more? I truly believe it is by never losing sight of the wonder of the gospel—never losing sight of what we’ve been saved from and all that we’ve been given in Christ. The words, I once was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see, are no light matter. The gospel is no light matter. Realizing your hopeless state, being destined for eternal punishment for your sins, then being given the free gift of salvation—being reconciled to the living God, washed entirely free of your sins, because God Himself bore the punishment for us—that changes everything. One does not hear that news and go on living as if nothing happened—continuing to feel pity for themselves because of all that they think they lack.

This hymn, written by Emmanuel T. Sibomaba, a pastor in the African nation of Burundi, speaks magnificent truth of the gospel:

O how the grace of God amazes me!

It loosed me from my bonds and set me free!

What made it happen so?

His own will, this much I know,

set me, as now I show, at liberty.

 

My God has chosen me, Though one of nought,

to sit beside my King in heaven’s court.

Hear what my Lord has done,

O, the love that made Him run

to meet His erring son! This has God wrought.

 

Not for my righteousness, for I have none,

but for His mercy’s sake, Jesus, God’s Son,

suffered on Calvary’s tree;

Crucified with thieves was He;

Great was His grace to me, His wayward one.

 

And when I think of how, at Calvary,

He bore sin’s penalty instead of me,

Amazed, I wonder why He,

the sinless One, should die

for one so vile as I; My Savior He!

 

Now all my heart’s desire is to abide

in Him, my Savior dear, In Him to hide,

my shield and buckler He,

cov’ring and protecting me;

from Satan’s darts I’ll be safe at His side.

 

Lord Jesus, hear my prayer, Your grace impart;

When evil thoughts arise through Satan’s art,

O, drive them all away

and do You, from day to day,

keep me beneath Your sway, King of my heart.

 

Come now, the whole of me, eyes, ears, and voice.

Join me, creation all, with joyful noise:

Praise Him who broke the chain

holding me in sin’s domain

and set me free again! Sing and rejoice!

The beauty in this hymnal truth is immense. How can a Christian go on living in discontentment? There is too much to be grateful for, and too much wonder in all things “ordinary” to pass up, especially in light of the gospel.

To be sure, I will not deny, as C.S. Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

And indeed, we will never be fully satisfied until we are united with Christ in glory. But notice he spoke of desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, meaning, there is no point in seeking fulfillment in anything this world can offer. Nothing in this world will fulfill you fully! If you are seeking fulfillment in something on this earth, the attainment of it will only lead to a longing for something more.

So then, we look not to the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal. -2 Cor. 4:18

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. -Heb. 11:13-14

And it will be said in that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord, we have waited for Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’ -Isaiah 25:9