The dreaded "what's new" question

How often do you get asked the question, “what's new?” When you're catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a week or maybe even months, and suddenly you're forced to reflect on what's changed since you last talked. The dread begins. You realize not only is nothing new, but nothing you hoped to be new has happened either. And the spiral starts to go further down as you start to wonder: does everyone else have something new going on in their life except me?

If you haven't gone on a trip, or started dating someone, or gotten pregnant or been given a promotion, this question can be paralyzing. It makes me question if my life is boring (or if I just don't have social skills to know how to talk anymore). But what if everyone else feels this way too?

Here's what I've learned: most of our minutes are spent in the mundane.

More than that: I think God offers rich abundance in the day-to-day, nothing-exciting-or-new moments of our life. Why else would we spend most of our time there? We can easily miss God's presence because we aren't being present.

Jesus spent most of His time walking, eating and drinking, sleeping, spending time with His friends, spending time alone with God and doing His ministry job. (just read any of the Gospels, I'd start with Mark!) None of that was glamorous, it was just what was in front of Him each day. He knew what was ahead: suffering on the cross, a beautiful resurrection and bringing His kingdom to earth (you know, the actual big and grand things). Yet, He was faithful with what was in front of Him in the meantime.

Jesus changed the world, by simply living out His calling in His places, with His people. And you and I are called to do the same.

So when you find yourself aching for your next trip, or a relationship status to change or for something in your life to feel like it's “new” or Instagram-worthy, remember this:

The minutes spent in the mundane make up your life. Don't miss them.