Liturgy of the Ordinary (Book Review) and How It Could Change Your Ordinary

Sometimes I read a book or blog and think to myself, "I wish I could be real-life friends with this person!" There's just something about the way they write about their life that makes you feel that just spending time with them would enhance the quality of your own life.

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That is exactly how I felt about Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren.

Her writing portrays her wisdom and insight while clearly being extremely honest and very relatable to people in many different life situations.

In the last chapter on sleep, she writes, "When I turn on Hulu late at night I don't consciously think, 'I value this episode of Parks and Rec more than my family, prayer, and my own body.' But my habits reveal and shape what I love and what I value, whether I care to admit it or not." This is the kind of writing that is found throughout the book - so real to our modern life but challenging to the way we should be looking at each situation.

Like any book or person, I don't 100% agree with all of her beliefs and so I'm not endorsing in a "Go think and do everything like her" way but I am endorsing it in a "This is really great stuff that will hopefully change the way you think about things" way. I underlined and drew stars in lots of different places throughout my copy.

Liturgy of the Ordinary is broken down into chapters that reflect on an aspect of a liturgical church service (most of which we have in a Presbyterian service like confession and communion and some we don't like when she writes about having incense during the service). She ties those to an aspect of our ordinary daily life (some chapter titles are "Brusing Teeth", "Losing Keys", "Fighting with My Husband" and "Sleeping"). In this way, throughout the book, the author is pointing out ways that our mundane moments point us to God.

It isn't the mountain top experiences that mold our lives, but rather the moments that make up our days.

One of the most helpful points for me as a stay at home mom of three little kids comes in the chapter titled, "Checking Email" she writes,

"We grow in holiness in the honing of our specific vocation. We can't be holy in the abstract. Instead we become a holy blacksmith or a holy mother or a holy physician or a holy systems analyst. We seek God in and through our particular vocation and place in life." (Page 94, emphasis mine).

Continuing, "Part of my sanctification...is for me to learn to do my work well - or at least better than I currently do it." (Page 97).

This really struck me one day as I was having a particularly hard week being "just a mom" and getting through all the mundane things I have to do on a daily basis on repeat. Changing so many diapers. Breaking up so many fights. Making so many snacks. Sweeping up those same snacks off the kitchen floor.

It is really hard work being a mom. 

Let's be honest, it's hard work being a human (remember that post where I said "you (usually) have no idea what people are really dealing with"?). 

Whatever you are facing today, remember that your opportunities, challenges, struggles, disappointments, spilled glasses of milk, and tears can be occasions for God to make you more like Christ. This book helped me look at more parts (and the general rhythm) of my day through that light and with that goal.

After I wrote this post, I found this video of the author. If you're on the fence, you can watch her talk about the book here:

I did not receive this book for free or anything... I just bought it on Amazon. 😉