Showing posts with label ritual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ritual. Show all posts
Aug 6, 2007
Re-centering
Today I did something I'm ashamed to say I haven't done for a while. I spent some time in devotion with The Upper Room Devotional Guide. Usually, I come in to work and start checking email or doing things on my to-do list. Today, however, I read a passage in Proverbs about seeking Wisdom in God, read the short devotion for today in the guide, then I spent some time praying. It was really refreshing, and I forget how centering and focusing it is. I think sometimes that I should have this fabulously strong faith and belief since I work in a church and lead worship, that I should be the example for the congregation and the world. Most of the time, it seems it is the other way around for me. I know that places a lot of guilt and expectation on me, some of which is unreasonable and self-centered. But the reality is, I can't lead or plan worship well when I am not seeking a deeper relationship with God. No matter if your belief about the Bible, whether it is literal or not, it is still full of time-tested truths that help us in our search for the Truth, and connecting with God is vital to connecting with others in worship. And that's something I want to do more and better.
Mar 1, 2007
Why?
Why do you do what you do?
Monday I led Dalit. I was originally going to lead last Monday, but we had technical difficulties and no one to lead this week, so we postponed me. So Monday we watched Nooma 004--"Sunday." It asks the question why we do the things we do--what are our intentions? Rob Bell, who leads the series, uses the example of bringing flowers to his wife. If he acted like it was no big deal and it was his duty as husband, she no longer wants th flowers. He equated this with God. If we only give to God because we're suppose to, it isn't genuine, and God doesn't want it. If we only do things, at home or anywhere, because we have to, where is the joy? Don't get me wrong--we have to do some things, we don't have a choice, and we don't like them. But can you find joy in them?
Why do you go to church (if you do)? Why do you go to your church? For all the things that bug you, why do you keep doing them? Are there empty rituals in your life? How can you bring meaning back to these routines and rituals?
A seminary professor of mine had one suggestions. Several of us were talking about how we didn't feel like we had time to pray and fulfill our spiritual needs. He suggested reclaiming time for daily prayer or devotions in other ways. He suggested using your time in the shower as a personal renewal time--renewal of baptism or some other form. As you're washing, you can think of giving yourself that rejuvination for your soul as well as your skin.
I don't think it is bad to have routines and rituals--we need them as humans. It is when we have lost the meaning in them that becomes dangerous. There is a certain comfort in not having to think about what it means when we say the Lord's Prayer--you just say it. But we also need to be reminded of what we really are saying and what it means.
Why do you do what you do?
Monday I led Dalit. I was originally going to lead last Monday, but we had technical difficulties and no one to lead this week, so we postponed me. So Monday we watched Nooma 004--"Sunday." It asks the question why we do the things we do--what are our intentions? Rob Bell, who leads the series, uses the example of bringing flowers to his wife. If he acted like it was no big deal and it was his duty as husband, she no longer wants th flowers. He equated this with God. If we only give to God because we're suppose to, it isn't genuine, and God doesn't want it. If we only do things, at home or anywhere, because we have to, where is the joy? Don't get me wrong--we have to do some things, we don't have a choice, and we don't like them. But can you find joy in them?
Why do you go to church (if you do)? Why do you go to your church? For all the things that bug you, why do you keep doing them? Are there empty rituals in your life? How can you bring meaning back to these routines and rituals?
A seminary professor of mine had one suggestions. Several of us were talking about how we didn't feel like we had time to pray and fulfill our spiritual needs. He suggested reclaiming time for daily prayer or devotions in other ways. He suggested using your time in the shower as a personal renewal time--renewal of baptism or some other form. As you're washing, you can think of giving yourself that rejuvination for your soul as well as your skin.
I don't think it is bad to have routines and rituals--we need them as humans. It is when we have lost the meaning in them that becomes dangerous. There is a certain comfort in not having to think about what it means when we say the Lord's Prayer--you just say it. But we also need to be reminded of what we really are saying and what it means.
Why do you do what you do?
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