What is real worship? Last night I was talking to a friend at the Moho party and he told me about a lesson he had to give once about this topic. Our conversation came down to a crucial issue: Worship isn't sitting in meetings. It isn't having your rear end firmly planted in every possible church meeting you can imagine. It isn't wearing a white shirt, tie, and saying amen at the end of every talk and prayer.
Worship is, however, each of us reaching out to God (divinity) and seeking to be and have more of what that divine force offers us. How you do it is up to you....
Today I went to "traditional worship." Meaning, I sat my way through sacrament. The talks were all about duty and stewardship. Every once in awhile I felt like they strummed the strings of what real worship was. Most of the time I heard words and felt nothing.
I may not be the most spiritual person. Some might call me evil? But my "worship" is just doing things for other people. I gave a family an hour of my time yesterday helping them get their house ready to paint. I slipped someone $80 just because. Today I skipped out on the last 2 church meetings, walked home with a neighbor I dearly love who has a bad back, then went home and cut a whole bunch of irises and took them back to her house. (They smell like grape candy) I went home teaching with a wonderful man to visit a wonderful family who had a really rough week. These were my acts of worship this weekend.
I love the "doing it" part of religion. I love helping people, and making things better for others. I love how I feel, and hopefully how it makes them feel. I really hate the "sitting" part of religion. Not sure I'd make much of a practicioner of meditation.
What's your definition of worship?
My definition sounds a lot like yours. And I remember something from Joseph Smith: "I love that man better who swears a stream as long as my arm, yet deals justice to his neighbors and mercifully deals his substance to the poor, than the smooth-faced hypocrite. I do not want you to think that I'm very righteous, for I am not. There was one good man, and his name was Jesus."
ReplyDeleteRob-Cool quote. I had forgotten that one. Don't swear too much--but I hope I fit the definition
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