On Materiality in Worship

     If you had asked me, oh, even ten years ago if I could adore a rug or a piece of wood, I'd probably given you one of my looks through squinty eyes conveying suspicion. So, tonight, when I kissed a tapestry, bearing the likeness of a deposed Jesus, I wondered--Wow! Have I come a long way from where I was.
     I'm on the verge of preparing for entrance in the ancient church, and while there are some things I'll miss from Protestant worship, there are some things I'd never dreamt of. Incense, like prayers; icons and the iconostasis, a reminder of worship in Heaven, of the great cloud of witnesses, of the human form, of stories, of something to look at and focus, of something to handle with hands, to kiss, to reverence; of water splashing at Theophany/Epiphany, of the burial procession of Holy Friday and Saturday Matins; the bowing, the signing, the whole body and senses involved. Not yet, but now. Not the whole, but only in part. Glimpses, nothing clear.
   Photographs from Heaven, calisthenics of the saints, elements of Earth--all pointing to the King and Creator. This is worship. Maybe you disagree, but you haven't seen what I've seen, I'll wager.

If you worship Him, why wouldn't you want to kiss his head, his hands, his feet?

Comments

lgumina said…

I think I do understand, Scot. And could I please accompany you to one of these places of worship one day? May not seem appropriate for me to ask, but I want to involve all my senses.

May 13, 2011 at 7:17 PM

Good reads of 2009

I haven't made a list like this in a while, and I believe I discussed most of these on the blog as I finished them, but I thought I'd make a handy short-hand list for you and me. These are only in the order I read them and do not indicate any preference. The Open Door * Frederica Mathewes-Green The Children of Hurin * J.R.R. Tolkien The Omnivore's Dilemma * Michael Pollan Agrarianism and the Good Society: Land, Culture, Conflict, and Hope * Eric T. Freyfogle Wonderful Fool * Shusaku Endo Up the Rouge: Paddling Detroit's Hidden River * Joel Thurtell and Patricia Beck Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation * Rodney Clapp (I started the following in December, but I haven't finished them--so far they are excellent: Love and Hate in Jamestown * David A. Price and The Picture of Dorian Gray * Oscar Wilde) Try one of these--let me know.

Worth Quoting

There are but three social arrangements which can replace Capitalism: Slavery, Socialism, and Property. --Hilaire Belloc ...

The Completely Unsexy Adventures of Constructing a Driveway

Yesterday marked the third phase in our attempt to create a homestead at the Martin Hollow. We now have a gravel driveway. Does this mean wild bacchanalia there? In a word: no. It simply saves me about 400 feet in walking when I'm carrying various tools designed to destroy decontextualized organisms, e.g. autumn olive and garlic mustard. It is also the beginning of our footprint on the land and it helps us to visualize where the house and garage will eventually be placed. The above are two views of the approach from our road which ends in a cul-de-sac (and a large pond just beyond that) to my right (north). Here's a closer view after the gravel has been added (above). This view is from the road facing south. Notice the culvert next the shovel? I told you this wouldn't be sexy. Just below is another view from the road looking northwest. You can see the bobcat tractor in the distance. This (to the left)...

I Am Not Hamlet

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