January is my least favorite month. It brings with it the dreaded chore of organizing taxes, a sun that disappears at 5 p.m., and a reintroduction to the daily grind, following all the fun I had in December. After the holidays, I’m ready for warm weather and the Chicago Cubs opening day to arrive. But January temperatures are quick to remind me that I’ve got a long wait until I pull my flip-flops out of storage and major league baseball is in full swing. If I didn’t know better, I’d be tempted to wish the month away. For me, January represents the mundane.
Maybe you feel the same way about January, or maybe there’s another season that’s your least favorite. Either way, we all experience the monotony of a daily grind. When bogged down in the mundane, it’s easy to identify with the words of Solomon found in Ecclesiastes 1:3, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?”
We all deal with monotony. It’s part of life and can’t be avoided. But what if we reframe how we view it? What if we search for meaning in the mundane? I’m not suggesting that every day is meant to be exciting because that’s not realistic. But I do believe every day can have meaning. Here are 3 things that have helped me reframe my thoughts about monotony:
- I remind myself I’m a servant. It’s tempting to fall into the trap of thinking I am on this planet to cater to my own whims and desires. That’s not true, and it’s a recipe for misery. As a Christ follower, I am called to live as Jesus lived. He came to serve; therefore, I am here to serve. (Matthew 20:26-28). As God’s servant, I am called to do good work in all things. That means I am called to do monotonous tasks with the same excellence I approach tasks that are of great interest to me. This simple truth refocuses my thinking and serves as a much-needed reminder that the world doesn’t revolve around me.
- I ask God to help me to enjoy all of my work. Solomon writes something fascinating in Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also I saw is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” The ability to enjoy anything is a gift of God’s grace. Therefore, why not ask God to increase our enjoyment?
- I remind myself that I work for the Lord. It’s a mistake to compartmentalize different aspects of life. I don’t want to worship God only on Sunday. I want to worship Him every day of the week and in everything I do. That includes my work life- even the boring parts. That means I should return emails, write new content, pay bills, and clean the kitchen with the same effort that I approach Him in prayer, worship, or Bible study. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” When I keep this biblical truth in mind, the mundane suddenly has significance.
I often hear people say, “Every day is a gift.” I believe it’s true. In fact, I believe there is meaning to be found in the ordinary days of January. They too are filled with awe, wonder, purpose, and meaning. And although I’m looking forward to spring, I am going to enjoy January.
