Uneventful

I had a conversation this week about a recent travel experience, to which I was happy to reply that it had been delightfully uneventful. The traffic was fine, there were minimal delays, inconveniences were minor, and there was a distinct absence of drama. Delightfully uneventful.

Uneventful is okay. It can be pleasant!

Often, our society seems to expect the spectacular. We wait to be amazing and astonished, and overlook the beauty of the ordinary. And we do this at our own peril; for if we come to presume that each day should be more special than the day before, then we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

If, however, we anticipate that a day might be uneventful, we are bringing our attitudes to the norm – the common – the typical. We are not lowering our standards, but appreciating the reality of what is before us.

This brings with it a sense of gratitude: it gives us a healthy foundation when we encounter unusual experiences of a less-than-pleasant reality; it also grants us greater respect for the happier-than-normal moments.

Our faith is another expression of the normal: we encounter our daily journey as an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God. If we are expecting great daily spiritual epiphanies, we are likely to be disappointed. If we are content with consistent (if uneventful) faith nurture, then we are more likely to be surprised by joy as we celebrated those tiny glimpses of holiness that are always being revealed to us.

For when we are truly on a journey of faith, we recognise that no moment is truly uneventful. They are full of grace and miracle that simply surround us with God’s loving presence.