Rhythm of Routine
Routine has its advantages.
By this time you ought to be “back in the routine” – or at least getting closer.
Aren’t you glad to be drinking milk again instead of eggnog and Christmas cider? Doesn’t it feel good to stay at home for a while after traveling so many miles to see family and friends? Putting in a few regular days at work is a welcome return to the typical schedule, and even a plain ‘ol can of soup is mmm-mmm good after a week of festive foods.
It’s that regular rhythm of the routine. The cyclical beat of life. A joy of familiarity.
Routine has its advantages. It lets you get in the flow of rhythm like tapping your toes to the beat of a song. It lets you anticipate a little, plan ahead instead of living on the edge, and feel secure and comfortable instead of like a tourist in a foreign country.
Continually revisiting regularly occurring events and experiences – some would call that boring. And they’re right, if the routine turns into a “here it comes again” same old grind. But if the routine develops a regular rhythm from which a freedom of expression can let loose once in a while, like a soaring soprano descant adorning a hymn everybody knows by heart, then routine is beautiful.
Even in Jesus’ earliest days and years, he had routine. “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus … when the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:21,22). Years later, we’re told, “Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover” (Luke 2:41). The clockwork of Jesus’ religion had started. The beauty was taking shape.
We still hear the tick tock of religious clockwork in our worship today. Every Sunday we confess our sins of unfaithfulness to God and to others, we hear the announcement of our personal pardon and peace, we reassure each other of our beliefs in a verbalized creed, we honor the Trinity, we pray, we listen to God’s Word, we sing familiar hymns and fresh praises. Is this just habitual ritual? Same church. Same pastor. Same songs. Same old grind.
No, there’s more. The cyclical beat of the Christian faith expressed in congregational worship intends to offer a rhythm of sorts. Believing hearts dance to this rhythm, and then the twirls and turns begin. Then the descants of alleluias tickle ears with delight and echo their encouragement throughout the week. Then the twin pillars of confidence and certainty tower skyward to heaven and lift spirits for a lifetime. Then the robust amens of fellow Christian soldiers thrust their glad obedience toward our Lord and Master in one, united voice. Then the miraculous blessings of divine power and comfort touch our mortal being with eternity and immortality and purity.
If you’ve fallen out of the regular routine of congregational worship, or if you’ve been attending regularly but wonder why it’s the same old stuff – rejoice in the rhythm of routine. And don’t forget to tap your toes a little to the beat of God’s love.
PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for the simple routines of life and for the regular rhythm of congregational worship – they offer me a familiar path. Lead me on that path by guiding my faith to believe your words and follow your commands. Take me beyond regular reoccurrence, if only for a moment here and there, to thrill how wide and high and deep is your love, always keeping before me the truths and traditions you’ve revealed as my guiding star. Amen.