“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son.” (John 1:14)
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As we move through the second week of Advent, we meditate on Love come to dwell within us…
I’ve always loved that Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s name means “she who bumps into things.” There’s something so wonderfully human about that, isn’t there? It makes me wonder: What if holiness isn’t about avoiding the messiness of life but diving right into it? What if holiness is a contact sport, and we’re meant to bump into things—into people, into challenges, into the sacredness of the ordinary?
So often, we try to Bubble-Wrap ourselves against reality. We measure, we protect, we homeschool our way through the world, hoping to avoid its harder edges. But holiness doesn’t come from distancing ourselves from life. It comes from entering it fully, letting it touch us, shape us, even surprise us. A wise friend once reflected, “When I stopped shielding myself from life, I began to see the Divine everywhere—in the beauty and the brokenness.”
The Incarnation is the ultimate declaration of this truth. Jesus didn’t come to hover above life or sidestep its messiness. Jesus came to be one of us, to reveal that God is present in all of it—in the ordinary, the human, the flesh-and-blood reality of daily life. When Jesus called Himself the Son of Man—the Human One—it wasn’t an accident. It was a reminder, over and over again, that the Infinite is woven into the fabric of the here and now.
If we’re willing to bump into the world, to let it move us and change us, we start to see that God isn’t confined to sacred spaces or supernatural moments. God is everywhere. A kind word, a shared meal, a sunrise, a struggle—each one holds a glimmer of the holy. Sacraments are happening all the time, but we have to be present enough to notice them.
This way of seeing keeps us from judging or scapegoating, from demonizing what we don’t understand. It invites us to see the world with contemplative eyes, embracing its complexity instead of running from it. It reminds us that being fully human, fully alive, is itself a sacred calling.
Today, let’s stop measuring and instead start bumping into things. Let’s dive into life with the faith that God is already there, waiting to meet us. Let’s allow ourselves to be surprised by the sacredness of the ordinary and to remember that in every human moment, in every corner of creation, God is present.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where in your life do you tend to Bubble-Wrap yourself against reality? What might it look like to embrace life more fully?
How have you experienced God in the ordinary moments of your day?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Holiness in the Ordinary
Holy God,
You entered our world not to escape its messiness,
But to show us Your presence within it.
Teach us to embrace life fully,
To bump into the sacredness of the ordinary,
And to see Your light shining in unexpected places.
Help us to live with open hearts,
Trusting that You are always near,
In every moment, every face, every experience.
May we find You in it all.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Seeing the Sacraments Around You
Today, take time to notice the sacred in your everyday life.
1. Pause and Observe: Pause for a moment to reflect on something ordinary—a meal, a conversation, a walk outside. Ask yourself, “Where is God in this?”
2. Embrace the Messiness: Let yourself bump into life—reach out to someone, try something new, or allow yourself to feel deeply. Trust that holiness is found in the contact.
3. Journal the Moments: At the end of the day, write down where you saw the Sacred. How did embracing the world more fully reveal the sacred in the ordinary?
Let this practice remind you that sacraments are everywhere if we have eyes to see. The holy isn’t waiting somewhere far off; it’s here, now, inviting us to dive in and discover the infinite love woven into it all.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
January 12, 2025, 3-4:30pm ET - Join me for a FREE conversation on “Progressive Islam – Universal Values vs. the Politics of Human Rights – What’s the Difference Between a Progressive Muslim and Other Muslims?” with Ani Zonneveld. Register here.
February 6, 7-8pm ET - Join my conversation “Mindful Healing: Tools For Inner Balance and Wellbeing” with Rev. Dr. Isa Gucciardi. Register here.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more.
August 11, 2025, 2pm ET - Dr. Andrew Root and I will host a 6 part series on Spirituality in the Secular Age based on his research. The dates are August 11, 18, September 8, 15, and October 6, 13. Mark your calendars! More on this soon.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Mark your calendars for now. More info is coming.
Recently, I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.