The RPMs of Reverence “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”— Albert Einstein
The RPMs of Reverence
“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”— Albert Einstein
One of the best practices to help us develop our inner life is having a daily routine of reverence. This involves creating a daily pause to enter a sacred time of quiet prayer and reflection.
We all need a regular breathing space to contemplate what is meaningful to us. As we age, many of us become more contemplative and require more space for solitude. Each day we need to take a sacred time—if only 15 minutes—in a sacred space, whether that is a prayer corner, a forest path, or a morning beach stroll.
RPMs have to do with the efficiency of a vehicle. In a spiritual context, RPMs are about spiritual efficiency and exercising our spiritual faculties.
Read and Reflect
Read something that inspires you—whether a few lines of scripture, a good poem, or something uplifting.
Write at least a few lines in a reflection journal to track your thoughts, insights, questions, and feelings.
Pray
Open yourself to inspiration. Ask for your heart’s desire. Ask to be of service. Seek guidance on decisions that are on your mind.
Record any discernment that comes in your journal.
Allow a dream to dream you.
Meditate
Prayer is the speaking part of a sacred connection. Meditation is the listening part.
There are many paths to meditation—from simple breath exercises to tai chi, yoga, silence, chanting, mantra, visualization, or listening for the still, small voice of wisdom.
Some individuals meditate best while moving—walking, running, biking, or swimming. Others need stillness. Find your best modality.
Listen deeply and trust that revelation will come.
Serve
Be open to your calling on a given day. Does someone need you to visit? Is there an idea waiting for you to give it voice? Is there a special kindness you can offer today?
I often do a virtues pick at this point, reflecting on what virtue will guide me through the day by randomly choosing a virtue card—either from a physical set or by using an app on my phone.
When I have a big decision to make, I do a five-card spread, randomly choosing the core virtue, guiding virtue, strength virtue, challenge virtue, and sustaining virtue.
www.virtuesproject.com/virtues
It’s amazing how fitting and illuminating these picks are.
Harvey is a lawn and landscape worker who often comes when no one is watching to mow the lawn outside Hope House, a hospice facility in our Lanai community.
He once told me, “I try to do something kind for someone every day. I don’t give a lot of presents at Christmas. I’m a giver in the here and now. That’s why they call it present.”
Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us to be loved. Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.
— Henry J. M. Nouwen
Dutch Catholic priest and author