Making the ordinary Sacred

Beyond making the ordinary an adventure, the wedding dress travels have helped me see the ordinary as a miracle, and to perhaps capture the notion of sacredness in ordinary activities.  According to Rabbi Elimelekh of Lizhensk, each new level of spiritual development is called a "generation." Which suggests that the Jewish prayers that refer to G-d's covenant with us lasting from "l'dor v'dor," from generation to generation, has two meanings, one referring to time (through a family lineage) and one referring to spiritual growth. 

In order to climb the spiritual ladder to the next generation we must learn to sanctify the ordinary, physical action of our present level. 
Our daily actions, like walking, eating, sailing, hiking, 
helping our parents  or strangers can become sacred, containing some aspect of praising G-d.

Travels with the dress, and with a sense of intentionality that some would call "presence" or "mindfulness," has allowed me to expand my spiritual reach to encompass ever-increasing spheres of what might be considered boring, mundane, or ordinary activities. 

I have begun to wonder, is every action potentially an instrument of praising? Is this the source of the Jewish notion of saying 100 blessings each day? Would many of us be more open to this if it was couched in Buddhist terms?

 I have to wonder about the complaints that old white guys created these "rules" and "guidelines" to keep women out, because being present and mindful sounds so feminine. What mother has not said 100 blessing each day for the wonder and safety or her child? What woman does not understand the need to be present with friends in need, aging parents, troubled teens, or anguished filled community members? Who has not found that midnight phone calls from a girlfriends have a sense of holy-work attached to them? 

Who walks in a 3-day breast cancer/stroke/heart association/MS event without a sense of doing holy work and being present?

I invite you to share your journey with me on these pages. How are you making the ordinary sacred? How have small adventures turned into spheres of spiritual growth? How are you moving from "generation to generation?" And how can I help?