Today’s devotional author is Prince of Peace member, Karlind Moller.

I had some difficulty thinking about how I could/would approach our Advent devotional theme: Ordinary People—Extraordinary Stories. I asked myself, what is ordinary? Who are ordinary people? How are they defined?

Surely, I consider myself an ordinary person who has grown and matured (now well over 80 years), has listened and observed (quite well I believe), experienced many life challenges and opportunities, and established relationships with many other ordinary people who have had significant impact on my life!

Clearly, we can be, and indeed are, influenced and guided in curious and rather extraordinary ways which make for extraordinary stories. And we, too often, might not recognize and reflect about that! I believe quite early life experiences and observations, and PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES, can be very impactful and influential in our future behavior, life decisions, and choices. I remember most vividly a pastor saying that God places people in our lives who love us and are blessings in our lives.

When I retired from the University of Minnesota over 16 years ago, I began to more intentionally reflect upon where I had been in my life and how I had arrived at this point. Certainly, how very grateful I was for so many people along the way—especially my parental and present family, my professional opportunities, and my faith. 

I intentionally reflected back on my first 11 years growing up as a young lad in Chisago City, MN before my family moved to the eastside of St. Paul. Chisago City was a small town (population about 500 at that time) and I did have such a rich memory of the people, places, and events I experienced there. The town was filled with what I thought to be ordinary people, who lived and worked in ordinary places, and who did mostly ordinary things. We were an ordinary family—safe, loving, and happy—with ordinary and friendly neighbors, and I cherished my ordinary friends in our neighborhood, at Zion Lutheran Church and in my first 5 years at Lakeside School. Does this remind you of Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town?”

However, and so importantly, as I reflected back to those first 11 years of my life, I asked, WERE THERE CERTAIN AND PARTICULAR PEOPLE THERE who may have had a significant influence and contribution to my future decisions and choices related to my education, career path, and faith journey?

I wondered and I pondered and I share some ordinary people who I believe did indeed influence and contribute to some rather extraordinary stories and blessings in my life.

1. I pondered about the influence of Mr. and Mrs. Z. and their small corner grocery store just a block from our home. I loved that place! They had something of everything, including nickel orange and lime popsicles and 3 Musketeer candy bars! I got to explore there several times a week to pick up miscellaneous items for mom and dad. Then, just a few years after moving to St. Paul, I got a job at Foodtown SuperMarket—first as a carry-out boy, then stocking shelves, and then occasional cashier and managerial opportunities. I experienced over 8 years of social engagement with a wide range of people and co-workers, valuable learning experiences, and, importantly, was able to pay my way through the University of Minnesota. RATHER EXTRAORDINARY STORY AND BLESSING!

2. I pondered what contribution the very different speech and voice characteristics of Tillie A., Lawrence F., and Mabel B. made on my decision to major in speech and hearing disorders at the U. RATHER EXTRAORDINARY STORY AND BLESSING!

3. I pondered about the influence of Mr. T.’s large hemangioma and facial deformity and Bobby G.’s cleft lip and palate and unintelligible speech had on my choosing a professional path leading to a 40-year career in the School of Dentistry’s Interdisciplinary Cleft Palate and Craniofacial program. RATHER EXTRAORDINARY STORY AND BLESSING! 

4. And I pondered about my faith journey—Sunday school at Zion Lutheran until age 11, our family membership, my confirmation, Susan’s and my wedding, and baptism of our children Kara and Kevin at Arlington Hills Lutheran Church. Then as a young family, living in Shoreview, looking to join a Lutheran community of faith and choosing Prince of Peace in Roseville in the late 1970s. And so remarkably, I ponder the influence of an active member there and president of the congregation. Believe it—Keith was my best friend at Zion when we met there at 4 years of age! RATHER EXTRAORDINARY STORY AND BLESSING!

My friends, reflect, wonder, and ponder about the ordinary people, places, and events God has placed in your own lives. How have they influenced and guided your behavior, decisions, and choices in your life journey? What may well surface are some extraordinary stories! Cherish them, savor them, be grateful for them!

Let us pray—

Thank you, God, for all the ordinary people—with us today and, indeed, the saints in our lives—who have been such a blessing in our life journey and contributed to our extraordinary stories. 

In this Advent Season, we contemplate and center our focus on Mary and Joseph —ordinary people, blessed by you to give us the ultimate gift and blessing to our world. AN ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR AND EXTRAORDINARY STORY! May we hold close in our minds and hearts the words of the Advent season —hope, joy, love, and peace! Such important words to share with each other and to live by throughout the year!