Oddly humble pie

 I am seeing a trend in my life. Well two, they kind of go hand in hand. Odd jobs and being humbled.
Do you know what an odd job is? Like a random job, something that needs to get done, usually not fun. They are practical but sometimes very odd.

It first started at camp, all the staff have to to odd jobs at the beginning and the end of the season, and even sometimes in the middle. Things like washing tarps, picking up gumballs, weeding the grass, mowing the woods (yes I had to do that), and the list goes on and on....no really it does. Somehow it NEVER ends!
Then, in Peru, I had an assortment of jobs. When they had a job that they didn't know who to give it to, they usually gave it to me. I did things from gardening, digging sand holes for compost, to wiping down cabinets, to speech therapy.
This past summer at camp I was donned "AAA" (all around assistant) sounds like an award rather than a job title. But yes, that is what I did. Anything and everything. Kitchen, program helper, take phone calls, babysit, vacuum snow....
OK I am starting to see a trend here.
Present day, it all started with Sunday school. They needed a teacher for 4-6 grade girls. I offered to help. Since then I have started to working at the local thrift store (which a friend asked for help), helping out a local business owner with her odd jobs around the house and her work (it is the busy season!), and this week I am cleaning house for a dinner party on Monday.
My life is anything but consistent.

For some reason the Lord wants me to do odd jobs. ALWAYS. I think.
Always I am thankful for good work, always I am learning something new, always I can be flexible, always I am happy to help. Always I am being HUMBLED!

Yes, these years of odd jobs have been nothing more than stretching, growing me and more importantly humbling me. I am learning that the behind the scenes work has to be done. That not always, hardly ever, am I going to be the center of attention in work. 

OK let's get real...yes I am human, I complain about my work, my feet hurt, I am tired, I want to do things for me most of the time.Do I really want to be humbled and doing dirty work?, no. Being humble is a battle, constantly I am fighting this battle, I fall on my face a lot, thankfully He picks me back up. and the good news is that if I allow Him to work in my heart, He will do so much in my life to give Himself glory!

So for now the Lord is using me.....quietly. I am not the one shining brightly (actually I am dusty and dirty) HE is. He shines brighter because I do the dirty work.

What is the bigger picture for my life? I know the ending. It is BEAUTIFUL! But for now I am human and want to know the now, now. I have a feeling I am not going to be a famous: artist, missionary, or even camper. I am going to be a behind the scenes girl for something big. I just know He is going to use me in a big way, but quietly eating my humble pie.

I like the way it is said in I Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.