Outside of having a hyper sensitivity to what I was doing all day Monday and wondering when the next alarm was going to go off (I’ve never gone to the bathroom so quickly) I was pumped by the response for #MMM. I think I could kiss a unicorn. Many thanks to all who participated, and now, the backstory…
Recently I was having breakfast with my friends, Shannon and Melissa. Melissa is a N.I. (Non-Instagramer) and we were explaining to her that people now write #nofilter if a picture hasn’t been doctored, because everyone assumes if a picture looks good, it’s obviously been edited.
“No no, really people!! This tree ACTUALLY looked so good that I need to inform you that I didn’t do anything to make it look more gooder. #nofilter #fo-real #properenglish.”
Or maybe it’s not so obvious.
When a picture has a #morningrainbowsandsunshine filter we may not think. Over time we may assume reality really WAS that vibrant even though we’ve never seen a tree in the Northwest produce neon pink leaves.
Our reality becomes electronic.
This type of voyeuristic not thinking can translate to our personal lives. I’ve mentioned in posts from the past that we can easily be distracted, dissatisfied or disillusioned with our own life by what we see online. For example…
Woah. Settle down, Joy. It’s just pictures. And now the extremists among us are gonna go deleting all their social networking accounts and get pious about people who use photo filters and make their pictures artsy.
You’re right.
Let me go on record saying that I personally love all the photos the galaxy of social media provides. It’s an artistic and creative outlet for many and a way to keep friends and family up to date on life’s happenings.
#mynephewiscuterthanyournephew
There is beauty to behold in this life – even online. We are attracted to beauty and we can’t help being awed and trying to awe others. I think that speaks to something greater and something very good.
But good can always be twisted, and toy with us.
Rarely do I post a picture without thinking, “will this be funny?” or “wait, where’s the shot where my lazy eye is less noticeable?” And I certainly don’t want to post a boring picture where I am paying bills, blowing my nose after crying, or staring at a wall with my mouth half open.
Am I alone in this? #dontlieyouhavealazyeyetoo
After doing this #MMM project (which I realized later was the dumbest hashtag I could have created; see why here) I realized I wasn’t alone. And many of you did what I KNEW would be uncomfortable for all involved by posting pictures with: no filter, no editing and no explanation, at random “uninspiring” points of the day. Here’s what some of you said…
“I felt a little disheartened that my life is so boring.”
“I care way too much what other people think.”
“I’ve found myself posting the pictures and than anxiously waiting to see if anyone likes them or comments on them. Like what they say would make my day less tedious or less mundane.”
“I never set alarms on my phone so every time one went off, I just about had a heart attack.”
Me too. Seriously. If you have an iPhone, whatever you do, don’t set your alarm to the sound of “Trill” unless you want to cut years off your life.
Outside of causing heart palpitations, I also wanted to highlight that maybe our view of what is beautiful or important has been skewed or revalued. Some of you realized your life actually needed something different and you were inspired by becoming aware of your daily choices.
“Is this really what i want my life to look like?”
Others of you found comfort in realizing you were not alone in your eight hour computer stare.
“It was great to see that there were plenty of other people stuck behind computer screens, or trapped on couches all day long. I’m not the only one who isn’t enjoying an iced americano in a field in a perfectly staged picture.”
That morning with Melissa and Shannon I decided I wanted to do something that would be a tangible reality check reminding us that online photos usually highlight the highs, representing only a small portion of our lives…but to also remember, that there’s beauty in the mundane.
Now in a less than smooth transition let’s have a short Sunday school lesson…
You know how scripture tells us the story of when Jesus noticed the old widow giving her small amount of change? (Or “widow’s mite” as you might call it. #dadjoke) Jesus was about to go to the cross, a burden that must have been slightly distracting and consuming. But guess what? He noticed. His friends were looking elsewhere, but Jesus was fixated on her.
She was doing something she had probably done many times, and she probably did so in faith. No one paid attention because they didn’t see her as a big “contributor.”
But guess what? Jesus noticed. And he thought it was beautiful.
As my father, Emerson Eggerichs says, “What matters to God, matters.”
So on those days when you feel like you’re not a big contributor to the world, your job or your family…know that He sees your heart. And when you don’t have vacation photos to post or cool desserts to snap because you’re saving money to pay off your college loans…know that He sees you. Or when your summer is spent in the hospital with your mom who is dying of cancer instead of capturing a shot of the drummer throwing his sticks after the final encore…know that He sees.
And even if you DO have all those cool shots to post, how much are the number of “likes” really going to matter other than momentarily making you feel noticed?
I appreciate all of you who contributed to the #MMM project, but I want you to know that you’re really a contributor to this life not because you get noticed or “likes” or comments, but you contribute if you just keep going each day – with an awareness of true beauty – even on the mundane days, in May, that happen to fall on a Monday.
And there’s beauty because it’s real. And real life has #nofilter.
It can can be…
Messy
Boring
Routine
Scary
Lonely
You probably won’t post those pictures or many like the ones you posted yesterday. That’s ok. But remember, there are other people not posting the #nofilter pictures, too. And even though you might be in a season of seemingly unending “mundaneness”, think about the way Jesus noticed the widow. Take note of the gifts you have been given and try to create beauty in the mundane by the way you live even if it’s not by everyone else’s beauty standards.
I hope you believe there is one who is watching.
From my heart,
Joy
Comment here or get a group of friends together to discuss. Of course only after taking a group photo of everyone laughing “candidly” while they are #havingthebestnightever!
Do you think you miss the beauty in your own #reality because you are comparing to other people’s #filtered-reality?
Could you do more things in the day to add #real beauty to your mundane and others’? How?
Is the mundaneness because of your apathy or because of your season?
Is the mundane serving a purpose for you right now?
How do you think the perspective I’m presenting translates to our #real-life relationships, marriage and singleness?
Do you struggle to believe God takes notice of you?
p.s. Here is the photo album from some your #mmm madness. If I didn’t find your shots, post on the FB wall!
p.p.s. Seriously – only one person caught looking at Facebook? Liars.
Love and Respect (Now) is a division of Love and Respect. Please be considerate.
From My Heart
All of the Love and Respect Now Posts…In One Place!
Emerson & Sarah Eggerichs on Marriage, Parenting, Family of Origin, Work & Death
Fighting for Love (and Other Potentially Hazardous Cliches)
@Michaeleen, Thank you! I’m glad you benefited from my weird little experiment.
I haven’t had time to write a feedback yesterday but of course I cannot miss the big reveal!
I live in a place where only 5% the words they speak could actually be processed inside my brain. I don’t have Facebook and I only follow a select number of people on my twitter.
I enjoy the peace I have through those things- or the lack of it.
So with my #mmm, I really wasn’t conscious or bothered with what other people would think of me and my photos.
…After reading this post (this might totally be irrelevant), I just realized I might not be living “right.” What I do is filter my eyes, filter my ears- when I think what I should be doing is filtering my mind and my heart. ‘Coz actually when I see the things I don’t want to see, hear the things I prefer l not to hear… I am still the same old me. As worldly as ever.
Ps. M y first alarm was set in the afternoon, and I panicked and thought: “Why would I even set an alarm in the afternoon? Did I think it was a holiday and could sleep in?” The following ones, I was just panicky because my colleagues- and boss!- might hear it and ask what’s all the alarm for. (Sorry! Wasn’t able to share #mmm with them.)
@Jackie, I like your point about filtering the mind which is usually a byproduct of what we look and listen to!
Great point!! Thanks for taking the time to do this project, it’s really opened my eyes to the fact that what I do every day counts- even if it’s not always exciting and picturesque 🙂
@Jess, Thanks!
So I don’t know what I was expecting from this project. I think it was just something I thought would be interesting to see how you’d tie it together, so I didn’t want to miss out.
You’ve caught me in the process of trying to live a better story. Had this project been six months ago, I probably would have felt inadequate or disappointed with my life. Monday’s pictures for me — especially after reading your explanation of the project — were just confirmation of my better story. And there wasn’t much to my pictures. I was driving and behind a computer most of the time. I guess now I feel like I’m living more with a purpose than I ever have.
My job is nothing special, but it’s my job in the place where I am now, and it’s awesome. And, yes, there are days like today where I’m commenting on blogs as much as I’m working, but that’s okay, too.
Mundane right now for me is good. I kind of feel like it’s a refueling and preparation time for what’s next. So thanks for this. Not sure if it’s the perspective you were planning to give me, but it’s the one I got. Loved this!
@Julie, I think you totally got it. There were many things I thought it could reveal to us but the main point was to think – sounds like you did!
@JOY, The one thing you always make me do is think. Usually about things I’d never even considered before, so thanks for that 🙂
Thanks for featuring my 90’s-ish pic hahaha! I realize that here I am at 31 and still love so many of the same things I loved as a teen. I guess I’m still a teen at heart =) Forever young.
Do you think you miss the beauty in your own #reality because you are comparing to other people’s #filtered-reality? Yes, definitely. I do this wayyyyyyyy too much. I partially blame this on the business I work in. I work in the entertainment business where everyone’s constantly trying to size you up and competition is fierce. So it’s puts you in a position where comparison is more likely. Takes a lot of mental muscles not to do that.
Could you do more things in the day to add #real beauty to your mundane and others’? How? I think it all starts with mindframe. If you approach things as “mundane,” they will be. But if you change your outlook and look at is as something important, special, or unique a lot can change! You may find a new joy and pleasure in things you didn’t before and inspire others around you in the change of attitude.
Is the mundaneness because of your apathy or because of your season? I’d say apathy. I think there’s a lot more I could do to change up anything that appears “routine.” I just need to make the choice. The season I’m in right now is pretty flexible. I’m not in anything that has restraints on me that I can’t switch it up.
Is the mundane serving a purpose for you right now? Mundane always has a purpose for everyone. There’s something we can learn and grow from in it, even if it’s a temporary season. And what each individual person gets out of it I’m sure is different. So yes, there’s definitely a purpose.
How do you think the perspective I’m presenting translates to our #real-life relationships, marriage and singleness? I think there are periods of times in each of those phases of life that can sometimes feel stagnant where it seems like nothing is moving forward or nothing exciting is happening. But we can’t live off of every exciting moment and be adrenaline junkies. That’s simply not real life. A lot of life is “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, etc. etc.” as Joyce Meyer has put before. Those “boring” times in relationships, etc. are just as active and important as exciting times. Growth is still happening. You just don’t see it.
Do you struggle to believe God takes notice of you? Not so much. I know God notices me. Sometimes I get impatient with God and wonder why he drags his feet with things lol, but I know he knows. And I know he sees me. I think I have the being noticed issue more often than not with people than God. Which I know shouldn’t matter. But that’s the truth of the matter.
@Heather, I think many would agree with you about the struggling more with people to notice than God. Thanks for sharing your answers.
hahah i HATE when my lazy eye is so obvious in photos!
oh wow, clearly i’m missing the point if that’s what stuck out 🙂
@Jordana, but it’s an important point….
“Do you think you miss the beauty in your own #reality because you are comparing to other people’s #filtered-reality?”
Sometimes yes, cause it always seems like somebody else is doing something great. Like they have friends to have great memories to create and are always having a blast, as well as getting to serve in something together. While for me, its harder to spend time with anybody it seems these days. And trying to create something just as great usually fails. But, I guess that comes from comparing my life to others, which is wrong. And that because of my comparison I am missing out on things God has to show me that is beautiful.
Could you do more things in the day to add #real beauty to your mundane and others’? How?
I think by focusing on other peoples needs instead of your own. As Christians, we need to look to the needs of other people, meaning being on the look out instead of waiting for somebody to crawl on their hands and knee’s to noticed.
Is the mundaneness because of your apathy or because of your season?
Probably a little of both, honestly.
Is the mundane serving a purpose for you right now?
I believe so. God’s hands are working in everything.
How do you think the perspective I’m presenting translates to our #real-life relationships, marriage and singleness?
I like how Heather answered this question above me. Copy!
Do you struggle to believe God takes notice of you?
Sometimes I do. I often see how spiritually God see’s me and yet I wait to see how God notices me physically, if that makes any sense. I want to see God in reality and not just in my spiritual life.
@Erin, Thanks for sharing your answers!
Joy, this is a fabulous, thought-provoking question. God is watching. He has a story waiting for us. It’s going to be beautiful, exciting, and sometimes boring at times.
For me, battling the mundane brings maturity. Life isn’t going to be always instagrammed gloriousness. If we’re always trying to ride the emotional highs, we’re going to have a terrible plummet to the bottom.
For me, the mundane is learning to balance my bank account, say no to coffee/shoes/another straw hat and yes to responsibility – bills, insurances, etc. It’s the side of being a grownup that no one likes to talk about in their 20s.
Sometimes it feels like I’m slogging through the swamp in Candyland. Stuck in the mire while all my friends are licking lollipops and eating gumdrops. But even in the mundane, God is there.
@Caitlin, I liked what you shared. I forgot about that swamp in Candyland. I heard the analogy of food grows in the valley, we must come off the highs to eat.
K, bye
i learned a lot from this.
one. i have got to be more creative on my picture for next week’s #mmm.
two. this is such a transparent post for me. so much so that YOU made me cry! haha
lately i have been completely IRRELEVANT. like the old widow. i dont have anything to offer that people will want or need. i feel that way sometimes. but whatever i have, God has given me. whatever i give to others, God notices. that was powerful for me. to just know, God notices me.
thanks joy.
ps will there be another #mmm because i need to get ready! 😉
@faith, that was supposed to say “i have been completely FEELING irrelevant…”
@faith, I feel you. So much. I couldn’t even participate because I’m not allowed to have a phone with a camera in the building where I work. I don’t have access to the Internet, either, and we’re watched like Big Brother. I often feel disconnected and irrelevant and uneasy. The feeling often come home with me, but God is always faithful in reminding me that He knows who I am and am always connected to Him.
Thank you again.
I learned even more from reading this post than “just taking unfiltered picture that people were wondering why I was taking them.”
I think post it on your other blog, but to me it was the anticipation of wanting the alarm to go of at certain times and not others. From the Biblical side I was reminded that God calls on me at all times and do not know when it will always be.
By not filtering/focusing shots it shows that we can be focused on something, but everything is in that shot. The picture of the computer or wall or …. can be us focusing on a thought or a person online or whatever.
Thank you Joy. Kudos and extra unicorn farts(it is like ferry dust).
K, bye
WOW. This was great… You know, I didnt even do the #MMM cause I was scared of exactly what you said. Shallow, eh?
But you’re right. Thanks for challenging me to find my worth in Him and to remember He does notice me. No matter how boring my life may be. (which it probably is boring compared to yours because I don’t believe in unicorns and I work on school work and my job work 24/7… but, mostly because I don’t believe in unicorns.)
Michaeleen thinks...
Brilliant. What an incredible explanation and encouragement for everyone. I definitely felt like my life was mundane when I looked at the pictures I took. Especially when it was of an elevator, or my shoe…I’m the coolest. 🙂 I love how you brought it back to Jesus. Everyone struggles with feeling loved and important. And especially these days where technology makes it so much easier for us to compare our “boring” lives to those who always post pictures of their lattes shaped like hearts or animals. Thanks for reminding us of our importance and that we all have a purpose in this life. And sometimes it may be mundane to us, but to God it matters. You’re great. Keep writing. 🙂
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