As the holiday glow fades and January settles in, the humdrum of daily life returns. The decorations are boxed up, the festive meals are a memory, and the calendar flips back to workdays, school schedules, and to-do lists. For many, this transition feels anticlimactic — a descent from the extraordinary to the mundane. But what if we viewed this shift not as a loss, but as an invitation? What if the sacred isn’t confined to Christmas or Easter, but permeates every day of our lives, even the most ordinary?

The Bible reminds us repeatedly that God is present not only in grand moments but also in the quiet, unremarkable rhythms of life. In Lamentations 3:22-23, we read, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” Every morning is an opportunity to encounter God’s presence. Our challenge is to open our eyes and hearts to the holiness that exists within the ordinary.

One way to rediscover the sacred is through acts of kindness embedded in daily routines. Consider the simple act of preparing a meal for your family or loved ones. Cooking dinner might seem like a mundane chore, but it can become an act of worship when approached with intentionality. As you chop vegetables or stir a pot, you can offer a silent prayer of gratitude for the nourishment you’re providing and for the people who will share the meal. In this way, the kitchen becomes a sacred space where love is tangibly expressed through service.

Similarly, even the act of tidying up — laundry, dishes, or clearing clutter — can be transformed into a spiritual practice. Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk, famously found God’s presence in washing dishes. He wrote in “The Practice of the Presence of God,” “The time of busyness does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.” His words challenge us to shift our perspective, viewing mundane tasks as opportunities to connect with God.

The sacredness of ordinary days isn’t just about finding God in our routines, however; it’s also about reflecting God’s holiness in how we live. In Micah 6:8, we’re reminded of what God asks of us: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” These commands are not grand gestures reserved for monumental occasions. Instead, they are daily practices that call us to embody God’s love in small, consistent ways.

Think about how you interact with others during your everyday errands. A smile at the grocery store cashier, patience with a distracted driver, or a kind word to a coworker might seem inconsequential, but these small acts can carry profound meaning. When we choose compassion over impatience or generosity over indifference, we reflect the sacred nature of God’s love in our ordinary interactions.

Another way to reflect the sacred is by cultivating gratitude. In a world that often emphasizes what we lack, choosing to focus on what we have can be a radical act of faith. Start by pausing to thank God for simple blessings—a warm home on a cold day, the laughter of a child, or even the breath in your lungs. Gratitude transforms how we see our lives, allowing us to recognize the sacredness of the present moment.

None of this means that our lives will be simple and joyous all the time, but our attitudes do make a difference in both joyful and stressful moments. Finding and reflecting the sacred in ordinary days doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges and struggles of life, rather it means trusting that God’s presence is constant, even when life feels monotonous or hard. The sacred is not something we earn or manufacture; it’s a gift from God, woven into the fabric of creation.

As we move into the new year, let’s embrace the holiness of the everyday. Let us ask God to open our eyes to the beauty in the ordinary, to help us find moments of grace in the seemingly insignificant, and to empower us to reflect God’s love in our daily actions. Because in God’s hands, no day is ordinary, and no act of love is too small.

When we live with this awareness, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and every moment becomes an opportunity to encounter the divine. As the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” May we all learn to take off our shoes, to see God in the everyday, and to walk into this new year with hearts attuned to the sacredness of ordinary days.

Athol Congregational Church, UCC, is a local community of faith that is “small enough to know you, large enough to serve.” We are currently celebrating in-person worship as well as offering Facebook livestream services under “Athol Congregational Videos.” Our pastors and our members are available for conversation on our Athol Congregational Church Facebook page, and through private messages, and we would love to connect! We offer long-distance Reiki through our certified practitioners, are willing to pray with you whatever your need, and want to know you, whoever you are! We are located at 1225 Chestnut Street, and can be reached at 978-249-6202.