I had been sorting a collection of comic strips on oxymorons, combining two words that really don’t fit together, ala jumbo shrimp. Then my reading had “an extraordinary day,” a descriptive for more than you expected. I mulled for a moment. Is extraordinary more than just adding a prefix to what comes morning to evening and creates extra ordinary. Extra ordinary means to me that all turns out as planned. Breakfast is prepared, carpool loaded, and a shopping list is already made out. No surprises, no disasters, just an even flow of what you expected. Change the accent to extraordinary and it becomes, “I never knew that was waiting in the wings!”
Once I paid attention, I saw what comes to pass can change the whole tone of the day. Sunday I made my usual journey to an 11:00 church meeting. The ordinaries of my day are very slow at the beginnings of the mornings, and I was feeling a little more less capable than usual. Slowly walking down a corridor, I heard a cheery voice call my name. It was the helper who cleans bathrooms. “I hope you’re staying warm this cold day.” Amazingly, as I answered back, I was able to pick up my step with more purpose. Monday, my daughter and I made a regular trip we schedule to do bloodwork, except it was MLK Day and labs were closed. By some fluke we could get in the parking lot and no barricades would raise to let us out. This was not ordinary at all until security on guard came with a key and smiled as he waved us through. Unplanned, astonishing, remarkable moments.
The word not only describes what happens, but also what we make of it. Re-reading my journal from May 3, 1999, is a list of some things I usually do, yet they must have been extra for reviewing that day. Centered in a page was a label: Extraordinarily Ordinary. To dig holes for plants.To make the bed on Saturday. To leave a clean sink for the next morning. To put the top on the myonaisse jar. To brush my short stubby hair. To fill my car with gas. To let me be a lark even if you’re an owl. These scatter silver dust on lead gray occasions. Wow! What dusted your ordinary day?
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy. Psalm 123:6 NIV
Let Me Tell Ya 