Thursday, December 12, 2013

Worship & Idolatry - Day 18

A poem by Wendell Berry from his book, A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems (1977 - 1997)




Worship comes naturally when we live in grace and joy. Unfortunately, worship is one of those things that can feel too much like work- but not the kind of work Berry links with sabbath in the poem above. Sometimes Sunday worship can feel like that drag-yourself-there/get-through-it-fast/is-it-over-yet? kind of job. I think, if you are reading this blog, you agree worship is not meant to be that kind of work. Instead, our worship can be the celebration and enactment of grace. Worship can be leap-to-your-feet-joyful! Worship can release us from the stress of needing to be in control at all times into a place of rest. And in our rest we can let go of our egos that warp worship, build idols, and wreak havoc on our hearts. We can open our hearts in faith and experience the real work at hand, the work of the Spirit. Suddenly then, our worship becomes work again, but a different kind of work, a work that is not about us at all. This type of work can be done even in our sleep...

How have you experienced worship as work in your life? What's at least one example of a time when you shared the practices of worship with others in your daily life? For example: sharing peace, forgiveness, a sacred meal, financial gifts, songs, prayers...the list goes on and on

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