The Exceptional Life

This moment captured of me depicts my abundant joy for cleaning. The unfortunate fact is this: I really don’t enjoy cleaning. Instead of displaying a musical-like stature, whipping and twirling around with dishcloth in hand, more often than not, I’m fussing. Saying phrases like, “how many times am I gonna have to pick this up?” And, “when are you going to put this up?” Or, “who used the bathroom last?”  With three growing boys in my house, the bathroom situation is sometimes interesting. When I first saw this frozen image of myself, I remember thinking: “I want that to be the constant me.” 

When it involves cleaning, other people may say, “well, that’s life, get used to it.” Or, “everybody fusses at their kids.” But what if we—you and I—were the exception to these everyday mundane statements of doom? Just because everybody else complains, doesn’t make it okay that we do. 

I’m reminded of the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors; the coat his father, Jacob, made only for the son he loved. Yet, Joseph’s brothers were extremely jealous of that love and threw him into a pit, then decided to sell him as a slave. Now that’s some cinematic drama right there! The part of the story that intrigues me, the part that is so exceptional, is when the Bible reveals Joseph’s perspective of his whole situation. From our view he had every reason to complain and be upset, but he chose not to. He chose God’s view. 

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45:4-8, CSB) 

I’m not sure I would have displayed such excitement to see those brothers who threw me into a pit and sold me as a slave. Who would, right? But Joseph was the exception!  His greatness was more evident in the perspective he chose and the fruits he displayed. He loved his family and accepted his situation as a Godly purpose.  He was someone who recognized that God sent him and placed him there.

Joseph reminds me this: wherever I’m cleaning, it’s for a purpose. Whenever I’m cleaning, it’s for such a time as this. And when I wonder why I always find myself cleaning over and over again? It is strengthening me for future assignments. 

No matter if it’s cleaning, or whatever brings complaining thoughts into our minds…we can live our lives like “everybody else,” or choose to be the exception. 

Let’s practice the exceptional life.