Have you ever been the recipient of an unexpected revelation from a surprising source? This experience seems to be occurring rather frequently for me in the last few months. Whether the resource was recommended or just stumbled upon, concepts are being exposed in a new light. It’s not uncommon these days to be reading about leadership and a random topic like shame appear, or to be engrossed learning from Scripture and come across tent pegs. And this past week, I was challenged to consider how I worship in a very different light.

So, I pose the question, “How Do You Worship?” Which activities do you engage in that connect you in a spiritual way to our creator? Prior to COVID 2020, my answer to this question would have related to happenings involving my church community such as one can experience through joining a chorus of voices in singing praises. Working side-by-side with mission teams to accomplish a shared goal is a form of worship for me. Marveling at the majesty of God’s physical creation when I travel to the mountains or viewing the act of surrender in baptism, and even seeing college students discover their vocation as a ministry opportunity can create moments of worship.

However, because our normal modes of worship, such as traveling to a church location, have been interrupted, we are being challenged to reframe our thinking as Christ-followers. Not only have we been asked to consider What is Truly Essential, we are navigating new avenues of life, including expressions of love and gratitude. Reading a Union alumni’s online post recently where she opened up her heart in a beautiful way to share how God was moving in her life led me to consider Rachel Hollis’ words in Girl, Wash Your Face. Hollis offers the “definition of worship as ‘the feeling of expressions or reverence for a deity.’ Creating is the greatest expression of reverence I can think of because I recognize that the desire to make something is a gift from God. The freedom to carve out the time and have a safe place to create that art is a blessing of the highest level in a world where so many people are unable to have either.” Like Rachel, I consider Ashley to be worshiping through her writing, and their willingness to be obedient by using their Tent Pegs means God uses their words to speak to others.

So, I return to the title question, “How Do You Worship?” Is there a unique method that is an expression of reverence for you? Rachel states, “Writing-for me-is its own kind of worship.” When Mark carves blood wood into the crosses for FaithWalk, I imagine a period of worship as he ponders how God will use the weekend for His glory. When COM members invest a week installing electricity and painting at the Jean Bearden Welcome Center at Camp Linden, they are expressing a form of worship. These may not quickly come to mind when you read the blog title, but I see a connection between living a flourishing life, worshiping our creator in our own unique ways, and honoring the life He has called us to specifically.

With new light being shined upon how we frame our thinking about worship, whether through writing, singing, or adapting to social distancing, I request that in the comments below, you offer an answer to How Do You Worship? It may appear a little distinctive to you, but it may suggest to another reader the insight to a method of worship they have been seeking in the same way that Ashley and Rachel’s words opened my eyes to worship through writing.

References:

Cherry, A. (2020, April 12). Forgiveness with a twist. Retrieved from https://ashleycherrynashville.wordpress.com/?wref=bif

Hollis, R. (2018). Girl, wash your face: Stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be. Thomas Nelson.