The Altar and the Alter

The Altar and the Alter. 

There must be time and practice. 

The As-If Principle. 

I’ve made a commitment to this daily practice of silence, prayer, reading, taking notes, and journaling. For the past six and a half years, I’ve taken a seat in a quiet place to do this thing I do. I’ve found this to be a form of disciplined worship, a time and place where I can sit in reverence of life, in awe of the Divine, and in reflection of my place in it all. 

I grew up going to church three times a week. And three times a week, I would see this space reserved for worship. I saw the pews, the windows, the pulpit, the communion table, and the altars. The altar was a place to go when things got real. It took guts to step out of the pew and go to the altar. This place of prayer to spend time with God. When a person leaves the pew and heads to the altar, something special is about to happen. They are about to be altered. 

That is the way I’ve learned to see this space where I practice silence, prayer, reading, taking notes, and journaling. This is a sacred space I’ve set aside. A space I enter each day in faith, with hope, and in love. For six and a half years, I’ve entered this space to be transformed. It has been a commitment and discipline that has truly altered me. I pray it continues to do so. 

Last year, I wrote this fitting quote from stoic philosopher, Epictetus. “Nothing is created suddenly. There must be time.” And practice. And effort. And patience. And commitment. These qualities alter our identities and lead to a transformed, well-lived life. 

Philosopher William James said, “if you want a quality, act as if you already have it.” Our identity is our self-image. How we imagine ourselves to be. We don’t want our behaviors to define our identities. We want our identities to drive our behaviors. The “As If" principle is an idea that we should act as if we are already the person we strive to be. We choose our behaviors and actions; we are choosing our identity. We can choose to be altered, transformed, by the renewing of our minds. Facing life’s struggles and challenges with serenity, courage, and wisdom. 

Today, may we visit the altar. May we be altered. May we commit time. May we practice daily. And may we live our lives “as if.”