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My dreams of having a proper Southern front porch with a swing and rocking chairs where I can sit with coffee in hand on chilly mornings and lemonade on warm afternoons has yet to come true so for now, I have a bench. We placed this bench in our flower bed by the front door as a spot to keep watch over the children as they rode bikes and played, but it has become something more. Sitting on this bench on a Sunday afternoon has become somewhat of a ritual for me, a ritual of release and replenishment.
On Sunday mornings I work at our church as the children’s pastor where I set up classes, prep lessons, greet families, or lead communion. It’s life-giving work for me, but by mid-afternoon I’m ready for quiet and a slower rhythm. In this moment of sitting on the bench I turn my face upward as the sun’s rays spread warmth over my skin, and I listen for the low hum of a plane leaving white streaks through the blue sky. It seems so simple, but this moment feels grounding. This ritual in many ways is the threshold that leads me into the practice of Sabbath keeping. It’s a signal to my soul, mind, and body that says, “and now we rest”.
We all have these practices and habits that we do daily or regularly that are like anchors keeping us grounded in the midst of changing and busy schedules. The making and drinking of my morning coffee is another of those practices. As the water pours over the grinds, this moment becomes an invitation to pray, notice where I’m holding tension, or linger in the quiet of the morning.
These daily practices become a ritual when we do them with the intention of letting them meet a need for quiet grounding within us. Perhaps it’s choosing prayer instead of a podcast as you wait to pick up your child in the car line at school. Walking the dog becomes a time of practicing gratitude. Reading over your lunch break instead of scrolling your phone refreshes you for the remaining work hours. Creating rituals in our days has the power to transform ordinary acts into something more meaningful.
We can choose the energy and meaning we put into these daily habits, and we can let them usher us into moments of grounding peace without adding anything more to our schedule. You don’t necessarily have to create something new, look at what you’re already doing and see if just changing your focus could help bring new life to that practice.
A Resource
This Wednesday, February 26, marks the start of the season of Lent on the Christian calendar which is observed by many denominations of the Christian faith. If the practice of Lent is not something you’re familiar with you can learn more about it here along with some resources for the season.
Lent is a great time to create rituals of prayer, reading, silence, or other practices that help you in your journey of following Christ. Here are 2 other resources if you are looking for ways to help you observe Lent this year.
A Practice
Look this week for a way to create a ritual in one of your daily tasks or habits. See it as an opportunity for connection and anchoring.
Thanks for reading and being on this journey with me. I’m glad you’re here. - Lindsay