As I Am

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. – Psalm 89:1 (NIV)

It’s been a few years since I’ve been a member of a church. As someone who doesn’t regularly attend a congregation, I find it increasingly important to find rituals that are spiritually meaningful to me and draw me closer to the Divine.

When I initially stopped attending a church, I struggled to find at-home rituals that lived up to my prerequisites for what a ritual had to be. I had internalized rules I’d learned in my spiritual formation that required everything from wearing certain outfits to setting aside specific amounts of time before praying.

I let perfection be the enemy of good. I convinced myself if I couldn’t create the perfect atmosphere, then I shouldn’t even bother trying to practice rituals at all.

When I stopped trying to create the perfect rituals for my time with God, I realized “perfect” rituals for seeking God already exist in my life.

I noticed how I’d get the answer to a burning question as I drove to pick up groceries. I felt some of my biggest “aha” moments as I chopped onions for a new recipe. I felt praise dances emerge as I vacuumed my apartment.

It’s easy for us to confuse reverence with formality, but God doesn’t require a black-tie affair for a personal relationship with them.

God sees the entire fabric and intentions of our hearts, no matter how dressed up they are.

Prayer
Thank you for meeting me where I am, as I am.

About the Author
Marchaé Grair is a spiritual director, facilitator, and the Communications Director at Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. Follow her work at marchae.com.