Mundane Rituals as Liturgy

She moves among the nasturtiums,

a needle going in and out, in and out,

sewing me to this garden.

(How many angels can dance on the tip

of a hummingbird's tongue?)

She dips her head in for only a moment,

then backs away,

and pauses after each blossom

and gives a tiny chirp, just a chip, just a ch—

(is it “Ahh?,” or “Thank you?,” or “Amen?”).

Then moves to another blossom, and

another moment, and another, and another.

She works every blossom in the garden,

one by one, sip after tiniest sip.

For her it is not patience, not acceptance,

but simply breakfast.

Our souls are not fed by great feasts

but a thousand tiny prayers.

~Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding Light

Brushing and flossing our teeth, bathing, brushing our hair, making our bed, getting dressed, eating breakfast are all mundane morning rituals. Life consists of these necessary tasks. Much of our days are spent taking care of our bodies, chores, and work. Annie Dillard writes, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

One could imagine these daily routines as liturgies of the day. Warren reminds us that "Whether we examine our daily activities theologically or not, they shape our view of God and ourselves. Examining our daily life through the lens of liturgy allows us to see who these habits are shaping us to be, and the ways we can live as people who have been loved and transformed by God" (p.22). Brother Lawrence suggests that prayer is not saying prayers but a way of living in which all we do becomes prayer whether it is an ordinary task or an extraordinary experience. "A prayerful life is a life in which all we do--eating and drinking, working and resting, playing and praying--is done to the glory of God and God alone. For Brother Lawrence, a practice of the presence of God was not a practice for a few moments of the day, not even a few hours a day...No, for him it was a practice that permeated every moment of his day" (p.xii).

This simple way of life is a challenge for us today. When we are open and attentive, God meets us and gives meaning to our day however small and mundane the task. In the monotony of our daily routines is where we are transformed. It is an opportunity to let our roots sink deep into God's love and grace so that we may share it with others.

As the tiny hummingbird goes about her daily task of pausing at each blossom sipping floral nectar, it also pollinates the blossom. The flower benefits from this mundane ritual which has extraordinary consequences. It helps sustain our ecosystems and produces our natural resources. Our little mundane tasks and tiny prayers are also important and transformative for both us and the people we touch.

View the video: The work of hummingbirds

Listen to Simple Gifts by Yo-Yo- Ma & Alison Krauss

Reflection

1. Be attentive to your daily mundane rituals. Take a moment to view them as liturgy. What difference would it make in your life?

2. What does the tiny hummingbird teach you about God's presence in the ordinary and mundane rituals of your life?

Resources:

Warren, T.H. (2016). Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life. Il: InterVarsity Press

Brother Lawrence. (1977) The Practice of the Presence of God, NY: Image Doubleday

Our upcoming retreats will further engage the theme of the liturgy of the ordinary, and how the extraordinary can be revealed within the ordinary as we pay closer attention to the moments of our lives. Please join us! (A $25 non-refundable deposit is required to register for each retreat.)

Autumn Silent Retreat

October 28, 2022 at 4:00 PM – October 30, 2022 at 2:00 PM Mariawald Retreat Center

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Winter Silent Retreat

February 3, 2023 at 4:00 PM – February 5, 2023 at 2:00 PM Mariawald Retreat Center

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Spring Silent Retreat

April 28, 2023 at 4:00 PM – April 30, 2023 at 2:00 PM Mariawald Retreat Center

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