Having only ever really experienced Protestant Christianity, ritual religions seem very foreign. I confess, I am quite intrigued. Yes, there are some rituals which I have taken part in... such as the Holy Eucharist, fasting, foot washing and baptism. And yes, even protestant church services have a certain formula to them that are ritualistic, whether we categorize it that way or not. But what interests me are rituals that are deeply rooted in holy meaning, and take on such meaning when performed by the devotee.
I think my spiritual experience has lacked this kind of daily, deeply symbolic ritual reminder.
I decided this week to start praying on my knees. Not every time I pray, of course. But before I go to sleep each night, I kneel by my bed, like little kids in movies.
It is not that I think God will be impressed by the gesture, or that God will be angry if I forget to kneel or stop altogether. And I certainly do not think that kneeling will make my prayers more powerful or my heart more righteous. It is just a reminder for me. Assuming the literal position of humility and meekness before the Lord, as I seek to bend my heart in the same manner.
I was inspired to take up this new ritual by the song entitled On My Knees by Seryn. "On my knees, I can see, where my heart, needs to be... when this life, gets to me, I'll be found, on my knees." And I have been desperate lately to see where my heart needs to be.
And so, on my knees I will be found.
On a (semi-)related note, I visited some Buddhist temples this week. As a tourist. It is a religion based almost entirely on performance of ritual. Every inch of the temple grounds is ornately, intricately, elaborately covered in jewels, stones, and gold. Here are some photos:
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