This past week an amazing opportunity was available to participate in the 2^nd Global Congress on Sport and Christianity at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As God painted the campus with beautiful burgundy, gold, and tangerine leaves, I absorbed teachings from scholars, coaches, athletes, ministers, and administrators who view sport as not only a gift from God but as a platform to share Christ with others. We grappled with our culture’s obsession with sport and how to maintain a proper balance between enjoying the gift of sport but not idolizing the game. Conversations abounded with challenges to think deeply about relevant issues related to faith and this crazy sport industry in which we live.

Whether my pen was scribbling across notebook paper or my phone was capturing photos of slides on the screen before me in the classroom, my mind was engaged by the deliberate thoughts being shared by those who are flourishing in their careers. Sometimes it is a delight to be the student in the room! When attending this Congress or the annual CSKLS meetings, I feel at home as I’m surrounded by my tribe who understands my daily academic routine, the struggles of equipping emerging adults, and the deep desire to live out my personal calling from God through my vocation which happens to be sport related. But more than any of these profound reasons to connect professionally, it is the relational equity that is created with each and every encounter that compels me to return. We pray for each other, advocate for each other, laugh together, and even hold our teasing to a minimum when our colleagues wear their shirts backwards (Right, Val!). It’s a true experience of Romans 12 where we “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

Although generally exhausted mentally and physically after a conference, there is a renewed sense of purpose and spirit that travels with me on the return home. As a thinker, ideas are churning away non-stop, and I’m inspired to implement strategies into my personal and professional life; however, there is also a downside that comes from that excitement. On Monday morning I am faced with returning to the more ordinary tasks of teaching, grading, and advising. This transition is not an easy one, yet at the same time, I am aware that I could not continue the conference pace for an extended period of time either.

Making the transition from an engaging conference or a faith experience like FaithWalk back into the normal rhythms of life can be a bit challenging; however, as I reflect on this struggle, I am reminded how God significantly uses the mundane and monotonous moments in our lives. John Ortberg calls this concept the “ministry of the mundane” and shares, “When I look for God’s open doors, I begin to see even the mundane circumstances of my life as an opportunity to serve others.” In the book entitled Only One Life, the authors share their desire “to be busy doing things that really matter and not be deceived into thinking that what may seem mundane and everyday doesn’t matter for legacy purposes. God can use every single one of us to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves: to be a light to those around us, pointing them to the living God of all the universe through seemingly simple things. We mustn’t let our daily opportunities to influence others for eternity pass us by.”

Considering the fact that most vocations within the sport industry are acted out behind the scenes, it may be a challenge to consider the importance of the mundane and monotonous tasks that must be completed before each event. Greater enjoyment may come from seeing the production on the field, court, or pitch that results out of the mundane tasks of preparation, but God is using each and every encounter you have to either create or destroy relational equity. He allows the monotonous days where you demonstrate perseverance and faith to be Kingdom building activities where you may never be aware of the results.

A flourishing personal and professional life is created through a consistent, day-by-day, walk with the Lord where he uses everyday ordinary mundane moments to accomplish extraordinary results. Take heart that he will use the monotonous combined with the exciting to guide you down the path he created just for you if you will allow him.

How have you experienced the great high of a special event such as the conference discussed above? Or what about the opposite? How has God used the ordinary and mundane to speak to you? Please share your comments below.