I have a collection of Christmas plates that I display in my kitchen at this time of year. They are the familiar blue & white plates that are issued yearly. Over the years I've found many of them at thrift stores, and one year in particular, I discovered a dozen or more plates.
As I looked through them, trying to decide which ones to buy, I noticed something special about one plate which was dated 1964. On the back, the owner had taped a piece of paper which recorded some of the events of that year: "Spent 3 months in Florida; Tinker died; L. Peterson died."
I bought that plate, and now each time I handle it I think of the person who wrote those words; their story, their hopes and dreams. Unlike the other plates, this one has a "human" side to it, and I take a moment to think about the person who owned it and offer a silent prayer for them.
Finding the sacred in the ordinary involves not only "picking up the plate", but more importantly, taking the time to turn it over, and discover what it has to say to us. It means being aware and ready for the many surprises we may encounter along the way.
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