{"id":16514,"date":"2025-07-28T23:23:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=16514"},"modified":"2025-07-28T23:23:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:23:07","slug":"simple-things-have-special-significance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/07\/28\/simple-things-have-special-significance\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple things have special significance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n <\/p>\n

Justin McRoberts<\/strong> writes, <\/p>\n

“… one of the most powerful aspects of the Incarnation story is the thirty years of silence before the recorded part of Jesus’ life. That silence – since nobody found much of it worth marking down – says to me that Jesus lived a life that is in large part unremarkable, until He was baptized by John. Many days I find my life to be somewhat unremarkable: I work, I eat, I rest, I have time with family and friends. Nothing out of the ordinary – not even a flash of celestial glory. I am encouraged that Jesus lived such a life as well, at least for a time.<\/p>\n

Unlike many other ancient incarnation stories wherein a god takes on human form for a while and only to serve a special purpose, in Jesus, God not only became a human being, but He …<\/p>\n

was carried in a woman’s body,
\nwas born to a woman,
\nwas raised in a family with parents who taught Him to feed Himself, and had a dad.<\/p>\n

And it seems, somewhere along the way, He …<\/p>\n

lost His dad,
\nhad siblings,
\nhad friends,
\nlost friends,
\nlived in a neighbourhood,
\nhad neighbours,
\nheld a job,
\nworked for money,
\npaid for food,
\nand paid taxes.<\/p>\n

All of which says to me that these things are not insignificant in their normality but that God finds worth in spending most of a human lifetime attending to simple things like work and neighbors and friendship and family.”<\/p>\n

 
\nfrom “Scared Antacids”, Prayer: Forty Days of Practice<\/a><\/em>
\nby Justin McRoberts<\/strong> and Scott Erickson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

From the blog<\/strong>
\nWho do you work for?<\/a>
\nJoseph and Mary: A Poem<\/a>
\nParental love<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Justin McRoberts writes, “… one of the most powerful aspects of the Incarnation story is the thirty years of silence before the recorded part of Jesus’ life. That silence – since nobody found much of it worth marking down – says to me that Jesus lived a life that is in large part unremarkable, … Continue reading “Simple things have special significance”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[127,148],"tags":[268],"class_list":["post-16514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quote","category-reflection","tag-simple"],"yoast_head":"\nSimple things have special significance - 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The first, the washing of their feet, spoke as no other action could, of the plain, unromantic, down-to-earthness of the love God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/michael_mayne_bread.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/michael_mayne_bread.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/michael_mayne_bread.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/michael_mayne_bread.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16126,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/03\/03\/deep-calls-to-deep\/","url_meta":{"origin":16514,"position":1},"title":"Deep calls to deep","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Caution: Wet floor \u00a0 (Verbeke Foundation, Belgium) \u00a0 In my local congregation in Rotterdam we're doing a sermon series called \"Deep calls to deep\", starting on Lent 2 and running through to Good Friday and Easter. The series includes Psalm 42, Hannah \"deeply troubled\" (1 Samuel 1:1-20), \"deep darkness\" from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/caution_wet_floor_verbeke_foundation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/caution_wet_floor_verbeke_foundation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/caution_wet_floor_verbeke_foundation.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/caution_wet_floor_verbeke_foundation.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3465,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/16\/2017-advent-hope-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":16514,"position":2},"title":"2017: Advent Hope #7","author":"Kim Hurst","date":"December 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 OUR HOPE Luke 2:28\u201332 \u00a0(NRSVA) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2018Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 according to your word; 30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 which you have prepared in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_beach_rainbow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_beach_rainbow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_beach_rainbow.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_beach_rainbow.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14723,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/12\/28\/open-ending\/","url_meta":{"origin":16514,"position":3},"title":"Open ending","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 This final post for 2023 has an intriguing title, something to chew on, and features a prayer of reflection by Tim Watson for the end of a day ... or year ... \u00a0 Reflection at the end of a day \u00a0 In the silence we hold before God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/moon_over_spoorsingel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16256,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/04\/29\/higher-this-is-why\/","url_meta":{"origin":16514,"position":4},"title":"Higher – this is why","author":"Irene Bom","date":"April 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God\u2019s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/de_huijberg_hedge.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/de_huijberg_hedge.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/de_huijberg_hedge.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/de_huijberg_hedge.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12999,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/05\/22\/3-prayers-for-a-clean-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":16514,"position":5},"title":"3 Prayers for a clean heart","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Psalm 51 is a classic prayer of confession. Here are 3 prayers inspired by Psalm 51:10: \"create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me\". I've also included a link to Keith Green's song, Create in me a clean heart, also a classic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noorderbrug_at_blue_hour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noorderbrug_at_blue_hour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noorderbrug_at_blue_hour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noorderbrug_at_blue_hour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/quote\/\" rel=\"category tag\">quote<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/reflection\/\" rel=\"category tag\">reflection<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"  Justin McRoberts writes, “… one of the most powerful aspects of the Incarnation story is the thirty years of silence before the recorded part of Jesus’ life. 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