The Daily Routine
I have a fairly standard routine of a work morning. I get up around 7am and straight into the shower. When I get out, I don some ‘house clothes’ according to the weather. Next, I put on the kettle and make a cup of coffee. I put some bread in the toaster and brush my hair. I then eat my toast and drink most of the coffee. If I am shaving, I will do that now and then get dressed and put my shoes on. Just before I leave, I will sit at my desk and do a short devotion, usually the readings for the Mass of the day. Then grab my things, leave and lock the house and off to work.
I grant that there are routines that are stifling and routines that might be described as unhealthy. Nevertheless, many routines help us get familiar things done.
My life has many of these routines. They change by time of day (morning, afternoon, evening), alternate by between workday and non-workday, by season and events. There are obvious advantages of a regular routine like this. Firstly, I get done what I need to in the morning – while I am still half asleep – and in a fairly efficient way. Secondly, they are powerful in that when a step is skipped my mind lets me know something is out of kilter, I forgot this or that task.
These are what I call the outward routine, they have a mostly fixed sequence of events and generally with a focus on activity.
Routine or Ritual?
Ritual is also a type of routine, an outward routine. It is one that is often quite detailed, but most importantly, a routine that is made sacred. Ritual has movement, we speak, we may sing, gestures, stand, sit, kneel, listen and respond. My life has these too – Mass on a Sunday, daily devotionals, prayer times and so on.
Yet, routine and ritual are intertwined, there is a close relation between the two. What, then, is the difference between the mundane routine and the ‘sacred routine?’ What makes a routine a ritual?
Essentially the difference is a question of attitude and of expectation. I do not expect anything miraculous to happen as a result of my morning routine (getting to work maybe). My thoughts are about the upcoming day, what appointments I have, pick up something from the shops on the way home. This is a kind of inner routine – the outward routine facilitates the inner routine.
Expectations
In a sacred routine – a ritual – I do expect something miraculous to happen, that is, an encounter with God. My thoughts are more intentionally focused on God and His presence, on the divine presence. Ritual provides the physical, intellectual and spiritual space for this encounter to occur.
It might be a little more accurate to say that in a ritual event I usually expect there to be an encounter with God. This is because there seems to be an unstated assumption that we go willingly to God with an open spirit and mind. However, anyone who has been a Christian for more than 10 minutes will know that this is not always the case. There are times where the rich oasis that is God’s presence can be as elusive as an oasis in the desert.
This is where the real power and joy of routine comes to the fore. Routine can keep us going when ritual fails us, when the spirit is dry. Ritual, in spite of ourselves, continues to generate the space where we might encounter God. It is a smaller step back to God being on the path to an oasis than being lost in the dryness of the desert.
Next Steps - Setting Up Wells
It is all very well saying that routines help the spiritual life, but how do you make a routine?
One way to start that I found helpful was to add something to an existing routine. For example, my morning routine already existed – just the things I need to do to get to work – so I added one item to the end. The advantage here was that it did not interrupt the existing routine, but was just an additional step. It also worked as a devotional was the last thing before I left the house and could set the tone for the day. This process can be used to add any sacred elements to any secular routine.
When there are longer times between events or the element is not part of a larger routine, other tools might be necessary. Set up times in a calendar, reminders, alarms. It can feel a little odd at the outset, but the habit, the routine, will soon form.
Above all, remain focused on the purpose – drawing nearer to God.