Hello, “Humans”,

As a Christian gone through numerous phases of faith (and still kickin’!) the word ‘Reverent’ holds a thick and creamy meaning to me.  Impossible to convey that deep spirituality in any number of words to my own satisfaction, I’m going to pursue it from a different tac.

I read a passage from the book, Ender’s Game, recently that really grabbed me.

First, put your pitchforks down.  I didn’t write in the book, I used my iPhone photoshop to mark it up.

It struck me how heavily Ender considered something that he didn’t understand.  Juxtaposed with the flippant manner that we (Americans specifically) treat things that are new or alien to us.  Rather than appreciating something “so sacred that [we can] not be allowed to understand what it meant,” we would say “meh” and move on with our day, at best.

I believe that in our struggle to be heard and shape the world in the ways we genuinely believe it should be shaped, we miss out on formative moments and inputs because we are unwilling to give them the brainpower they deserve for unpacking.  There’s a huge difference between gullibility and reverence, and people fleeing from gullibility often run right past the house of reverence as well.

I’m going to make sure I take more time to be reverent of things that I don’t understand, and those few things I do understand. Reverence brings with it a rest that is refreshing and invigorating.  To sit and appreciate something greater and/or other than yourself, something holy, is to acknowledge your own limitedness and place yourself and your own world in perspective.  It’s important, and a great way to stay grounded.

Reverence is a type of meditation that focuses the mind positively on things outside of the self.  It helps us see beauty and appreciate value in people and things around us.

Unfortunately, like reverence slides evermore out of practice in a world moving a hundred miles a minute.  Anyone under the age of 40 probably doesn’t have (or doesn’t think they have) the time to stop, sit down, quiet their mind, and appreciate things.  And out of those willing to make time, even fewer can figure out how to do it!  All of that said, it’s an important skill, so when you master it let me know how you did it.

Reverence reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, ironically.  I think you will find that a person who understands and practices reverence jokes more often, laughs and smiles more often, and sleeps more peacefully.  Monks, priests, and those figures in our lives who radiate peace and security.  Those people who make us feel safe are the ones who can teach us to be reverent.

That’s the end of this Rabbit Hole.  Thanks, Orson Scott Card.  If any of you haven’t read Ender’s Game yet, stop whatever you are doing and pick it up.  It ain’t the gold standard of SciFi for nothin’.

Meow,

~M