Inviting the Holy into My Humble

by Kathi Lipp | | 5 comments

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As a child, I did just about anything to avoid work. This included paying my brother to do my chores; hiding dirty clothes under my bed; and one memorable time, putting dirty dishes in the oven so my mom wouldn’t see them.

As an adult, I figured out the only one I was hurting with my laziness was myself. Dishes that didn’t get done one day were still going to be waiting for me the next day. Laundry would pile up until my kids were tempted to use bandanas as underwear—or just go commando.

So as I got older, I learned the art of distraction to soldier on and get things done. Folding clothes wasn’t so bad as long as there was an episode of Friends playing in the background. And cooking dinner and doing dishes weren’t such a problem as long as I was in the middle of a good audiobook. And the treadmill? It only got “treaded” on when I could scroll Facebook.

And this worked, pretty much, until I got to my most dreaded of all chores—cleaning out the chicken coop. It helped a little when I told the ladies I was giving them a spa treatment and listened to soothing music while I was mucking out their roost. 

Then came the day I left my cell phone at the house. I only had fifteen minutes to clean out the coop before my next meeting. Running up to get my cell phone would eat into about five of those minutes, and then I wouldn’t be able to check off “cleaned the coop” from my list. And there’s nothing worse than not being able to check something off my list.

I decided to soldier on and clean out the chicken coop with nothing playing but my own overthinking thoughts.

At first, I hated it. Ha-ted it! All I had to concentrate on was the task at hand (poop)—and what was going on in my own brain. But with my mind freed up, I was amazed. My thoughts turned to the verses in Philippians I’d read earlier in the week.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:5–7 NIV).

While it might seem irreverent to commune with Jesus while scooping chicken poop, what I realized is this: Jesus, who started in the humblest of circumstances—not that much different from a chicken coop—chose to be humble to love every one of us.

Meditating on Jesus happens in our house of worship on a Sunday, and a chicken house on a Tuesday. We just need to still our minds and focus on Him, wherever we are, whatever mess we’re cleaning up, and whatever we’re doing.

Ever since that day, I’ve been increasing the amount of work I do sound and screen-free. When there is quiet, God speaks: bringing worship songs and Bible verses to mind, talking through the wind in the trees, and revealing His thoughts through the click-click-click of the birds.

I’ve reframed my quiet time in the morning. Instead of it being the start and finish of my “spiritual time” for the day, it sets the tone for the day, entering into the holy and looking at every activity as a chance to be present in that holy. I believe God cares equally about my scheduled time with Him, the walk I take with my husband through the woods, the time I play with my dog, the time I do the dishes, and yes, the time spent cleaning out the chicken coop. He is there, whatever I’m doing.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Thank You for being with me wherever I am. Help me to remember to praise You and seek You, even in the mundane.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

What is the humblest part of your day? Is it changing diapers? Serving your boss?

Now, are there ways to invite the holy into your humble? Could you pray over your son’s future while you change his diaper? Could you remember the mantra “God is with me” as you breathe out at work?

More from the Girlfriends

“Inviting the Holy into My Humble” is an excerpt from An Abundant Place.

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© 2023 by Kathi Lipp. All rights reserved.