Reverence

There's a wonderful wesite that you really should know about. It's called Spirituality and Practice and it's just full of resources for the kind of integrated devotional life that affects everything we do.

One of the practices we are urged to cultivate is reverence. Here's how the basic practice is described:

Reverence is the way of radical respect. It recognizes and honors the presence of the sacred in everything — our bodies, other people, animals, plants, rocks, the earth, and the waters. It is even an appropriate attitude to bring to our things, since they are the co-creations of humans and the Creator.

Nothing is too trivial or second class for reverence. But it has to be demonstrated with concrete actions. Don't abuse your body — eat right, exercise, get enough rest. Don't abuse the earth by being wasteful of its gifts. Protect the environment for your neighbors and future generations.

Reverence is also a kind of radical amazement, a deep feeling tinged with both mystery and wonder. Approaching the world with reverence, we are likely to experience its sister — awe. Allow yourself to be moved beyond words.

I like the words "radical amazement". Such an amazement is a powerful antidote to the pernicious ennui that has infected so many in our day. It is a way of being fully alive.