Reverence Each Hour…

“Reverence each hour
as a small stepping stone
on your pilgrimage
through the day.
Receive the gift
of seven sacred pauses.
Practice waking up
seven times a day.” –Macrina Widerkehr, O.S.B.

This past Saturday Cathey Capers shared her passion for honoring the hours for the unique qualities they offer us, as some monastic traditions do, in a day event, Time’s Sacred Flow.

While reminded of the trust needed to pause during busy days or full evenings, the gifts of clarity, peace, and inspiration possible on the other side of these pauses stood out. I was reminded of the unseen help available to us at any given moment. All we need to do is pause and welcome it in.

Usually I finish writing this during Terce (the 3rd hour in Latin). Cathey shared it is a time for inspiration and acknowledging blessings. My note to myself during our time of reflection was “In this sacred time of Terce, may I be kind to the “doer” within, gently easing in a pause, a breath, and a moment of gratitude for the tools that support my work.” What might you do as a sacred pause mid-morning tomorrow?

Or, you may be reading this at the time we send it, None (Latin for 9th hour), and choose to honor the waning day and begin to wind down and seek forgiveness for anything that happened earlier.

May you pause often each day to connect to the wisdom of the hours and be rewarded with priceless gifts of peace, inspiration, and clarity.

O Pilgrim of the Hours

Each morning
night’s curtain
opens on a new day.
You are invited
to join the great opening.
Open your ears.
Open your heart.
Open your eyes
to the sacred path
you travel every day,
the path of the hours.

Greet the hours
with joyful awareness.
Greet the hours
with faithful presence.
Greet the hours
with a reverential bow.
Greet the hours
with a sacred pause.

Reverence each hour
as a small stepping stone
on your pilgrimage
through the day.
Receive the gift
of seven sacred pauses.
Practice waking up
seven times a day.
–Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.*
*From Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day by Macrina Wiederkeher, O.S.B.