I think sometimes when we are around the extraordinary we consider it ordinary. I had some people tell me recently about how their dog can open the gate to go out to the beach. I was amazed and exclaimed, “She taught herself that. It’s amazing!”
The owner’s response, “It took her some time to figure it out.” So it would only be mind boggling for him if the dog also spoke to him while she let herself out? “Hey, Master, I am heading to the beach. There is a guy dog next door I want to meet. Wish me luck! By the way, could you add real bacon to dinner tonight? I’m tired of that fake stuff that you think you are tricking me with.”
It reminds me of a mom I know whose first-born is a genius. However, she did not know that his IQ was off the charts. She assumed every child was reading books by the age of three. The mom did not know he was already on an elementary-school grade level; she thought this is what all three years olds do. Then, her second child was born. Her daughter could not read by the age of three and in fact did not want to sit long enough to have a story read to her. The mom took her second-born to the doctor, thinking something was wrong. The doctor figured out the problem and let the mom know her daughter was intelligent but should not be compared to a genius. The mom was so used to extraordinary she thought it was ordinary.
(Isn’t strange that I used a dog and a genius to make an illustration? Who would have put those two together? I wonder who is more offended the genius or the dog?)
The point is: I believe we have become too familiar with the extraordinary that we pass it off as ordinary. I was reminded of this the other day as I listened to a message by Brandy McCombs, a friend from back in the day…long time ago…in a land far, far, away…I could keep going but I won’t. Anyway, she shared of how the Bible is the Word of God, not just a book, but the living, breathing Word of God. The same God who said “Let there be light” and there was also wrote the Bible we so casually lay on our nightstand. She also pointed out how only 7% of the world’s population has the entire Bible written in their language. Although we are part of that small percentile, we see it as ordinary and not the extraordinary gift that it is.
Her message took me back to a Bible study I participated in years ago. The leader set his hand on the Bible and moved it up and down as if the Bible was breathing. He said something like, “The Word is alive. Approach the Bible remembering that it is living and active today.” It is not words on a page. It is not ink and paper. It is a conversation with God, the Word speaking to you and to me, the breath of God exhaling into our souls.”
That truly is extraordinary.