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Finding Meaning in the Mundane

 By Stephen C. Schultz


The air was crisp. The sky was a soft off-white, layered with high clouds and drifting fog. The sun slipped through a break just long enough to sparkle on the fresh snow resting delicately on a leafless shrub.

At nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, snow is no stranger in winter. I grabbed my coat from the closet, slipped it on, and in just a few steps was at the back door. The snow shovels leaned against the wall, ready to spring into action at Mother Nature’s whim.

This particular storm wasn’t much—just a few inches. With the sun peeking through, the sidewalks cleared quickly. While shoveling, I looked up and saw two mule deer—both bucks—gracefully scampering across the snow, over the sidewalk, and into my backyard. Hobble Creek flows less than fifty yards from my home, so they were likely headed for a morning drink.

It was a beautiful morning. The work didn’t take long, and when I came back inside and hung up my coat, the phone rang. It was my daughter, two weeks into her first semester of college after joining mid-year on a volleyball scholarship. We chatted briefly—her classes were going well, homework was light (for now), and she and her roommates were headed to church. She told me about the healthy meals she’s been preparing and the workouts she’s keeping up to stay ready for official practices.

I wish I could say my day was full of excitement—an epic ski run down a black diamond slope, or maybe a much-needed Caribbean cruise. Scrolling through social media, it seems like everyone else is doing those things. Sometimes I wonder if my life is a little boring.

And truthfully—it is.

But that’s exactly what I’m most grateful for.

Finding meaning in the mundane routines of daily living is what helps us fully appreciate those rare moments of adventure. Most of us live life one day at a time: we wake up, take care of hygiene, get dressed, go to work, return home, eat, sleep, and repeat. Day in and day out.

So the question then becomes: how do we find satisfaction and meaning in those ordinary days?

I’ve known people who chase excitement from one thrill to the next. It rarely ends well—broken relationships, substance abuse, and deep frustration often follow. Living for the next adrenaline rush is like a cat chasing its tail—you end up exhausted, with nothing to show for it.

Many of the teens and young adults today struggle with this same issue. Instead of learning healthy social skills, they seek constant stimulation—through gaming, substances, pornography, or other misuses of technology. They’re chasing that next emotional “high.” As parents, how many times have we heard the familiar words: “I’m bored!”

But life isn’t meant to be a nonstop thrill ride.

As we shovel snow, rake leaves, wash dishes, make our beds, or set alarms for work—can we learn to see the small blessings? Do we notice the sparkle of snow on a branch, or pause to watch deer gracefully cross the yard? Do we allow meaning to enter the mundane?

If not—how can we?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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