In Praise of the Ordinary…

“The most radiant exemplars of each faith tradition seem to share this common theme: they perceived the extraordinary in the ordinary and celebrated it.” –Mirabai Starr, God of Love

In this month of love many feel compelled to either make a grand gesture to express the love they feel for another or to ignore the entire ‘event’ Valentine’s Day has become. Perhaps there is a middle ground

In her book God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Mirabai Starr weaves together the wisdom that points to the foundation of love found in these and other faith traditions. Sharing the story of Catholic saint and mystic, Thérèse of Lisieux, she reminds use of the blessings to be found in honoring the ordinary:

“In dedicating our smallest actions to the God of Love, Thérèse believed that we are contributing to the transformation of the whole world.“ –Mirabai Starr

Imagine the gift you’ll give yourself and the world by infusing love into the humble work around your home or in your office. Or quietly sending love to the harried clerk in the understaffed store and calling someone you love but haven’t spoken to in awhile. The possibilities are endless…

May you find ways to praise the ordinary by infusing love into experiences and interactions you might normally dismiss as meaningless. And may this sharing of love come back to you in joyful ways.

Ordinary Love