Practicing Reverence

Father Don often exhorts us to simply notice other people as we go through our days as a way of loving others by acknowledging their presence. This is important because we can be distracted and inadvertently treat others as if they were invisible. Invisibility blocks us from our dignity as Children of God. Noticing says to them– and to us– that they matter.

Noticing is defined as “observing or paying attention.” The root word of “notice” is Latin nōscere (“to get to know” or “to know”). That should give us pause. Noticing someone is a way of saying they are worthy of knowing.

Of course, even when we notice someone, we still have a choice as to whether we are going to acknowledge them — give them more than a glance – a smile, perhaps? or a greeting?

Sometimes, although we look at someone, we could at that moment also be lost in thought, and although we look their way, we still do not SEE them. Quite possibly, we could also be worried or angry or hungry or lonely, and without realizing it, our face shows anything but the welcome we may so desire to give. Still, with the intention to love, we can be more mindful of truly noticing. As our parents implored us, “Keep your eyes open.”

Why is acknowledgment love? All of us, at times, can feel invisible – at least to certain others we wish would notice us. For marginalized persons, this is especially true. They are invisible because they are deemed socially unimportant, not useful, unworthy, or even, sadly, repulsive. Relate? Yet, we never know what anyone is dealing with, and the internet meme that “a smile can change the world” is a golden nugget of truth.

For a more indelible acknowledgement of another human, try asking their name and then introducing yourself or using their name, such as, “Thank you, Deb.” I unexpectedly reaped the benefits of this recently. The same lady has worked behind the meat counter at my local grocer for some time. I had asked her name more than once, and recently asked again as I still had not remembered. I was then able to thank her by name when she handed me the chicken.

A week later, I was at the wine tasting at my local liquor store, and guess who was there? I said, “Deb, is that you I see?” She looked at me and said, “Hi!” obviously recognizing me also. Presently, another lady walked up, whom I knew from a sandwich shop where she and I worked together many years back. Turns out, the two are cousins. The 3 of us had a lovely conversation about aging bodies and serendipitous meetings over sips of Chardonnay. Who knew a liquor store could bring people together? It was a very equalizing moment and the highlight of my day. Maybe theirs?

Enter Reverence. Barbara Brown Taylor in her book An Altar in the World, advocates noticing everything. She speaks of this as practicing reverence. This is profoundly important because everywhere we look – and notice – there is a little altar of beauty in the world, another image of God calling to us to worship him. A cherry tree in bloom, a bird eating from a feeder in your yard, a warm ray of sun on our face, a squirrel rushing to hide or retrieve his stash… nature is replete with reminders that God is everywhere and his image is stamped on everything.

This is a radical mindset with far-reaching consequences. If we think of every person on the earth, all from this same creator’s heart, all equally images of God also, then they are due not just notice, more than acknowledgement, incredibly more than a smile or greeting, they are due reverence.

Reverence means to “stand in awe of in respect or honor.” Hello? This raises the bar for our response to creation, indeed, to life itself, never mind the passerby or the lady behind the meat counter.

Both Father Don and Barbara Brown Taylor raise our awareness to notice these “little altars” all around us, everywhere we look, and practice reverence. This is a way of loving God, for noticing and acknowledging, and indeed appreciating God is worship. Worship is showing worthiness. What a way to walk through the world by practicing reverence everywhere we look.

That next person you and I have the opportunity to notice, acknowledge, or greet, possibly by name, is an opportunity to practice reverence.

May God give us the presence and grace to make these moments an altar.

Jesus looked at him, and he loved him. Mark 10:21