editorial: God in the ordinary

Have you seen ‘unboxing’ videos on social media? Some influencer looks excitedly into the lens of their camera, probably positioned near a window, ring light set to ‘warm’ for perfect lighting. Drumming their fingers on a cardboard box, they say, ‘at last it’s arrived! I wanted to save opening it with you’, followed by ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’, their first reaction to what’s inside is captured for their followers.

Consider this edition of Spotlight to be an unboxing. For centuries, Christians have sought to dismantle ‘the ‘sacred-secular divide’ that confines sacred activity to church, leaving everyday activities as less commendable, less valuable, and worldly. Who would consider putting Yahweh in a box? Limiting him to a ‘holy’ place or certain religious activities? And yet, even those beginning to see nursing and midwifery as a form of mission and worship, can slip into old mindsets. When I prayed silently while drawing up antibiotics, that was sacred, but what about the less glamorous parts of my day, chasing prescriptions or waiting on hold with the pharmacy? Was that sacred, too?

Our writers share their experiences of God kicking down conventional beliefs and bursting out into their working days, at home and overseas, in our communities and hospitals. We even hear of a chance encounter with him at a bus stop! I don’t know how you’re feeling as you read this, but I know that many of you’re working in challenging environments, overwhelmed and overstretched. Our prayer is that as you read these articles, you will be encouraged to hold onto your faith at work, and that your expectations of God will expand once again. We pray that you would encounter our God of hope in hopeless places. ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13).

Bex

Bex Lawton is a paediatric nurse and CMF’s Head of Nurses & Midwives