Ordinary, No Such Thing!

How amazing would it be to see an original Picasso or a Rembrandt painting close enough to touch as part of an extensive personal collection? What kind of status would you have to have to be personally invited by a team owner onto their private jet and given court side tickets to a professional basketball game? Or how much would you pay to hear the beautiful sound of a historic Stradivarius played by a master artist?

I sat there in awe as I was listening to my new friend talk about all of her remarkable experiences throughout her career. The thing is, this list is just the tip of the iceberg of people she has had the opportunity to meet and the fascinating things she has been able to see that only a rare few have had the privilege to see in person. But in all of this I find the most amazing thing is, she never pursued any of it. You see Angela is a house keeper with a gift for small, thoughtful, precise details. Especially when it comes to the art of ironing. Her talent for mastering an iron, eye for detail, hard work ethic and positive attitude have taken her to places she has never expected to go.

Angela's quiet pursuit of a job well done, and not the pursuit of elevating herself (or being a status seeker) has caught the attention of some notable people. By which has enabled her to see more, and do more, than she ever imagined when she came to this country from Venezuela in a brave act as a single mom with $300 to her name.

I am so encouraged by her witness. She believes that God has opened doors for her by using her talents, and has blessed her beyond imagination throughout her life. I love this story and challenge each of us to use the unique gifts that we have been assigned, whether you see your gifts as ordinary or extraordinary, coupled with hard work and let your life speak volumes.

"If you do little things like they're big things, God will do big things like they are little things." Mark Batterson