Details

     They are everywhere, constantly surrounding and making up life all around us. Each day we remember details that others around us don’t. Details in my life: We always have to keep food in the microwave that would usually stay on the counter when we aren’t home because our dog will climb on top of the counter and eat it when we are gone. When I boil milk at the slightest whistle I have to run to the kitchen so that it doesn’t explode out of the kettle and all over everything. I have to set my alarm five minutes early in the morning because I inevitably hit snooze at least once. These are details in my life that to another would have absolutely no meaning in their life. We often go through life and don’t notice any details: a person’s new pair of shoes, the color of someone’s nails, the way a neighbor precisely mows their lawn, someone’s hair looking nice. We see big picture when in another’s individual life, it is really the details that mean so much to them. I’ve found that it is small details that really make people happy or irritate them, yet so many, myself included, do not even think twice about doing things.

     Last week we moved to an apartment. When talking to the leasing agent she told us that they offered washer and dryer rentals. The more we thought about it we thought it would be best if we just went ahead and bought some and use the money as an investment rather than pay the same amount for the rentals over a year’s time. We began to look at some gently used ones online and tried to figure which would work best for budget. Two days later JD went into work as he walked in someone asked him if he wanted a washer and dryer because she knew of someone trying to give a pair away. Crazy, isn’t it?!? A detail in our life that we’d not prayed about, not talked about with anyone and just like that, we had a washer and dryer! One definition of detail states it this way, “extended attention to particular items.” We were so blown away by God in this instance. We could have never dreamed of someone just giving us a washer and dryer and yet the Lord had paid attention to the details of our lives and blessed us with one, though we had not asked or even thought to ask Him for one! The days following the washer and dryer instance I found myself lost while reading Psalm 139. It’s so familiar and to be honest, I get annoyed hearing the cliché parts of it most of the time, but as I read it I was so awakened to the attention to detail the Lord has in each of our lives. He created every detail, yes, but that’s not all! He is also still very much involved and desires us to invite Him into the details. The passage tells us that His thoughts concerning us outnumber the grains of sand. Think of that number in a literal way: mind-blowing, isn’t it??  As I listen to the hum of my new dryer, my prayer is that as the Lord knows the details of my life, I want to know the details of Him Character, His Kingdom, and His People. Even now it’s my habit to see big picture, but the Lord created me to be detailed and it’s my hope that I’m becoming more that way every day.