If we are honest, reverence is subjective to our interpretation of what is holy or sacred.  We often think of being reverent at church but not at home.  We think of it beyond the self rather than within the self.  Reverence, I have come to believe, is a stance of openness to God’s presence, love and grace.  It is an internal stance that keeps me rooted in the place of expectation—namely, that God will show up and if I’m willing, I will see, experience and dwell in the very presence of God.

As we end this week, I leave these final words from Paul in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica…

Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone. Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else. Rejoice always.  Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t suppress the Spirit. Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil.