Finding Meaning in the Maze
Finding Meaning in the Maze | Common Work can be Extraordinary
In today’s fast-paced world, many people feel stuck in a monotonous cycle. They see themselves as working ordinary jobs, living in modest homes, and going through daily routines that feel repetitive and insignificant. It’s easy to feel unseen, as though life is a never-ending maze where each turn only reveals another tunnel. A question often emerges in these moments: Does any of this really matter?
The book of Ecclesiastes captures this sentiment perfectly. Solomon, one of the wisest and wealthiest men to ever live, wrestled with the meaning of life. He observed that many pursuits—whether wealth, pleasure, or success—are ultimately a “chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). He wrote of toiling under the sun, only to find that the satisfaction these efforts brought was fleeting. Life, he concluded, could feel meaningless when its focus is solely on earthly achievements.
But Solomon’s reflections weren’t meant to leave us in despair. Instead, they point us to a greater truth: our meaning is not found in what we accumulate but in who we serve.
Consider the life of Jesus. Our God and Savior, the King of Kings, chose to live His life on earth in the most common of ways. He grew up in the humble town of Nazareth, worked as a carpenter, owned no luxurious possessions, and wore simple clothes as He traveled to teach, heal, and serve. By worldly standards, His life might have seemed ordinary, even unremarkable. Yet, through His life and sacrifice, He transformed the world.
Jesus showed us that where we look for meaning matters. It’s not about what we gain but what we give. It’s not about who notices us but about who we notice. It’s not about what’s done for us but about what we do for others. God doesn’t see the acts of kindness, generosity, and love we offer as common. To Him, they are extraordinary.
Right where you are, with the gifts and opportunities you’ve been given, you have the power to make an eternal impact. Your time, talent, and treasure—when shared with others—become instruments of God’s grace. The mundane can become meaningful, and the ordinary can become extraordinary, when done in service to Him.
So, the next time you feel unseen or wonder if your life matters, remember this: God sees you. He values your efforts, no matter how small they may seem. In His hands, even the most common moments can carry eternal significance. Let us look to Him, the ultimate source of purpose and meaning, and live each day with the confidence that what we do for others truly matters.
-Mark
