Thomas Merton somewhere exhorts us to have an 'unspeakable reverence for the holiness of created things'. Joseph and Jesus made tables and chairs (and crosses?); Paul used woven goats' hair to make tents; Dorcas was a seamstress, Nehemiah a butler; David and Amos were herdsmen.

We serve the living God washing dishes or sweeping a room; preaching or administering the sacraments; teaching geography or giving advice about superannuation; organizing a day-care centre or fasting to raise money for the poor.

Everything we do - working or playing, partying or praying is to be done to the glory of God. All of life - family, church, job, sex, sleep, study, whatever - is sacred, when offered to him.

Lord God, you came as a baby, accompanied by the sounds and smells of animals. Jesus was at home in the commonplace, and often talked about ordinary things. May these unspectacular areas of my life bring glory to you. Amen.