The great poet and author Maya Angelou said, “We need much less than we think we need.” As we continue our exploration of encountering God in the midst of the ordinary, one question that emerges is: What brings meaning and contentment to our lives? Unfortunately, when we are really honest, our answering that question too often relates to what we have in terms of wealth, accolades and/or comforts.

Our text for today comes from the Apostle Paul’s reflections on contentment and strength through Christ. Was there a time when things were particularly challenging, and you felt like you were alone without any prospect for peace? What lifted you from that situation? Where was God in that challenge and in the road to recovery? How can your experience from that situation be of help to you today?

Tish Harrison Warren in our book for this series, Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life, shares an example from her life of being “imprinted” by technology and her unhealthy desire to resist and dread boredom. She speaks of how her cell phone and media engagement dominated her regular days leaving huge gaps in her ability to connect with God and others.

Important questions for us all today as we look to “what forms a life” are:

How are you allowing a situation or perhaps a habit to imprint your life?

What changes need to happen to order your life with holy practices that give way to contentment and peace?

Reflect prayerfully today and this week upon how God may seek to free you so that you can more fully embrace and share God’s grace and the strength that comes from Jesus Christ.