REFLECTIONS

Ordinary Jobs

Bora’s eyes danced as he spoke. He loved his job. His eyes told it all. I had seen the artistry in his work, but he saw his job with even deeper meaning. “I make people feel good about themselves,” he said. “I like to see people happy. I like to reach into the feelings of each customer as they see themselves in my work product.” Then, moisture filled his eyes as he further explained, “Seeing their smile is all I need.” God had gifted him. Bora was a tailor.

It may seem unimportant, making someone’s clothing fit well. But it was important to Bora’s customers—and was important to Bora too. Maybe a well fitted suit has never been credited with making an impact on the world. Neither have shined shoes, a fresh haircut, or brightly waxed floors. But those may have been just the finishing touches needed to inspire someone to reach a little higher or stretch a little farther and to touch life in a way that made a difference to the world. God works through ordinary jobs in ways that go unseen. No job is unimportant.

Since time began, ordinary jobs have been important. God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Adam became a gardener just as Bora became a tailor. God gives us all ordinary jobs to do, but we often fail to associate those jobs with our service to God. But our service to God does not come after we leave our work to participate in some capacity at our church. Our service to God includes the work we do in the performance of our ordinary jobs.

Bora, a Slavic immigrant who came to this country unable to speak the language, discovered deeper meaning in his job. His job helped people feel good about themselves. His work brought joy to the lives of others, and by doing his job well, joy came into his own life. All our jobs make a difference to the world no matter how insignificant they seem or where they stand in the hierarchy of life. When we discover deeper meaning in our jobs as Bora did in his, and do our jobs well, we find joy in our work as never before.

We also discover that no job is ordinary.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.

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