God in Our Daily Routines (Book Review)

Book Review By Woon Lee Lee, PJN7

hen we think about holy habits, we often associate them with praying, reading the Bible, and worship.

Here is a question: would you consider placing brushing your teeth in the same category? Chances are probably not.

This is not explicitly found in the Bible, but do you know we can (and should) honour God even in the simpler, ordinary, and even monotonous habits of our daily lives?

Liturgy of the Ordinary sets out to reframe our perspective on our daily routines. In this book, the author Tish, by bringing us through the daily routines of her life from making the bed, losing her keys, all the way to sleeping, reminds us that God not only cares about the little things, He intends us to be sanctified through the daily grind.

In the introduction by Andy Crouch, he shared the purpose of the book by stating, ”Tish dismantles that most stubborn of Christian heresies: the idea that there is any part of our lives that is secular, untouched by and disconnected from the real sacred work of worship and prayer.”

liturgy of the ordinary

BY TISH HARRISON WARREN

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As I read through the book, Tish’s remarkable linking of the small things that happen in our daily lives to biblical concepts such as grace, fellowship, and sabbath, reminded me of the importance of taking care of the smallest things in life, because God cares about them too. “The crucible of our formation is in the anonymous monotony of our daily routines”.

For ease of reference, here is a list of daily occurrences that she creatively linked to biblical concepts and lifestyle, with a total of 11 chapters: 1. Waking - baptism and learning to be beloved. 2. Making the bed - liturgy, ritual, and what forms a life. 3. Brushing teeth - standing, kneeling, bowing, and living in a body. 4. Losing keys - confession and the truth about ourselves. 5. Eating leftovers - word, sacrament, and overlooked nourishment. 6. Fighting with my husband - passing the peace and the everyday work of shalom. 7. Checking email - blessing and sending. 8. Sitting in traffic - liturgical time and an unhurried God. 9. Calling a friend - congregation and community. 10. Drinking tea - sanctuary and savouring. 11. Sleeping - sabbath, rest, and the work of God Towards the end of the book, there are discussion questions and exercises for a deeper engagement with the concepts presented, on which one can reflect and journal on his or her own or discuss with a group.

Although the theme was consistent throughout the book, I personally found it refreshing for the author to break down what goes on in a usual day, and flesh out different concepts that together highlight the significance of the main theme. It is a simple yet powerful reminder that we do not only experience God in the highs and lows of life, but also everything in between.

If you are interested in exploring this paradigm shift of viewing your daily life as a holy sacrifice, this book is now available to be borrowed from DUMC Library. Enjoy the read!

Liturgy of the Ordinary is available for sale at a special price on bit.ly/DUMCLibraryBooks. Preview one chapter of the book on dumc.my/e-library. The book is also available for borrowing at the DUMC Library at the opening hours below:

Saturdays 1.30pm - 4.45pm Sundays 10.00am - 12.00pm