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Focus on Lively Virtues Worthy of Cultivation:
The Power of Ritual   

sermon from the pulpit of 
Christ Presbyterian Church                    
a center of faith for abundant living
The Reverend Clyde E. Griffith, pastor

As you may know, two findings I gleaned from two fairly recent longitudinal studies of the physical and mental health of several populations provides the basis for this series of these Lenten sermons. The studies revealed several factors that seemed to affect people's health. Two of the findings were of interest to me:

First: People who go to church regularly are healthier than those who don't go to church regularly; and

Second: People who go to church regularly live longer than those who don't go to church regularly.

From other reading and studies, I had some hunches as to why this may be so.

Why are people who go to church healthier than those who don't?

Why do people who go to church regularly live longer than those who don't?

Aside from pious sermons and preachers' platitudes, there seems to be an outpouring of scientific studies recently, in several different fields of inquiry, that help to answer these questions. Why do people who go to church regularly live longer and live healthier than those who don't?

Among several reasons, are seven that I am attempting to elaborate on during this season of Lent. There are at least seven reasons that folks who go to church regularly are healthier and live longer than those who don't. Seven items that seem to have power in and of themselves to affect healthy living. Seven sources of power for healthier living. What I am calling seven lively virtues -- for a better life.

We have talked about the healing power of prayer, and the healing power of attitude. In the weeks to come, we will hear about the healing power of forgiveness, the healing power of laughter and joy, the healing power of community, and what I am calling the healing power of transcendence. And today, I want to share with you some ideas about the healing power of ritual -- a virtue that will help you live a better life.

One of these days I am going to elaborate on what I have learned from my dog: the gospel according to reverend Ike. [But that's another sermon.] One of the things that my dog Ike has reminded me of, and what anyone who has ever lived with a pet finds out, is that all living creatures are governed by an internal clock.

Ike wakes up and wants to go outside everyday at about the same time. And, he usually is not in a position to see a clock. And, I never taught him to tell time. But he knows. And, you know, he is completely oblivious to daylight savings time. Much to my chagrin, he doesn't know when we change the clocks. And he knows when it is time to go bed. His sleep at night is different from his naps during the day. During the day, he may be lying still with his eyes shut, and from all appearances he is asleep, but he apparently is alert to all activities around him. When anyone comes into the room, he is up instantly and alert. But, at night, after he decides it's time to call it a day, it takes dynamite to wake him and get him to move. He is naturally in tune with a rhythm is somehow beyond our mechanical timekeeping.

Ike reminds me that scientific studies conclude that all creation -- all life on our planet -- all animals, all plants, all mammals, all humans -- seem to have an internal clock that is in tune with a certain circadian rhythm. Researchers at the Center for Biological Timing say that these clocks are endogenous -- they are developed internally somehow. They seem to be inherited and do not require, or need, any outside influences. They have shown that animals raised in total darkness, still have biological clocks that are rhythmic in nature. And, curiously, blind people who have no conscious light perception, still were synchronized with the dark and light of a 24 hour day.

Think about it. How does that happen? All life seems to share an internal clock that is in tune with the whole creation -- and in synch with some cosmic clock.

That may not come as a surprise to those of us who grew up in the church and came to know the story of God creating the universe. But, for scientific researchers from all kinds of fields -- biology, micro-biology, botany, human behavior, and on and on -- for researchers to tell us that there is a universal rhythm to all life, actually confirms some of what our faith has been telling us. Not only do we have circadian [or daily] rhythms that we are in tune with. But we have circannual [or seasonal] rhythms, as well. And the scientific community knows much less about how these work. But, work they do.

We seem to be a cyclical people. 
We organize our lives around certain rhythms or cycles, don't we? 
Some people organize their whole year around a sports season, don't they? And when something happens, like say, the players go on strike? and the season is canceled? We see them get all out of sorts.

Some people used to organize their lives around the television season.

Some people organize their lives around the school season, don't they?

Some people have summer homes, and organize their lives around spending time here and there. We seem to have a need to create our own rituals that inform and govern how we live.

All of us have daily rituals, don't we? That when interrupted, we get all out of sorts.

One of the basic stories of our faith describes a ritual God used in creating the universe. You know the story, God created the world in six days.

But, creation is not a six day cycle, is it?

No, it's a seven day cycle, isn't it?

God created the universe in six days, and on the seventh day rested, rejuvenated.

And that is the cycle that we seem to be plugged into.

Indeed, the truth of this has been know from ancient times. At the beginning of the Hebrew religion, Moses came down from the mountain with the 10 commandments from God. And the fourth commandment refers to this universal rhythm of life: Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy....You have six days in which to do your work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me.

On that day, no one is to work -- neither you, nor your children, nor your servants, nor your animals, nor the aliens who live in your country.

And now scientific evidence seems to confirm that this cycle is basic to our existence, basic to our make up, basic to our well-being.

Again, the times and seasons mentioned in Ecclesiastes acknowledge the cyclical nature of our lives and our basic need for ritual.

Now, we humans have ingeniously developed a myriad of ways to circumvent our internal clock and the natural circadian rhythms. We invented the light bulb to extend our day well into the night. We invented the Eleven O'Clock News and Tom Snyder to override our internal clock and keep us awake well past our internal clock that governs the shutdown of our bodies and minds for rejuvenation. 
We invented the alarm clock to wake us up because we don't trust, or don't hear the internal clock that lets us know its time to awake. 
We invented a whole host of activities that occupy our weekend time providing conflict with time allotted for worship and education and spiritual growth.

We work hard at our play all weekend, and face the rest of the week unrefreshed, unrejuvenated, unrested.

We read books, and listen to tapes, and revere those who teach us to use our time wisely, and efficiently, so we can get more done. And we honor those who "work the hardest". But, the latest health studies confirm what our ancestors in the faith knew all along:

when you ignore the rhythms of the universe,
when you ignore the circadian and circannual rhythms,
when you ignore your basic need for ritualistic sabbath time -- a time we all need for rejuvenation, revitalization, rebirth --
when you ignore a ritualistic day of rest,
you experience burnout, elevated blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sleep disorder, obesity, autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis -- and a host of other related problems.

There seems to be a basic human need our whole species has, that is the need for periodic time of rest -- daily and weekly.

Now, most of you know this. And this is where this church is different from a lot of churches. Most of you are here today because you want to be -- most of you are here today because you really would rather not be somewhere else.

I know for a fact, that some of you went through a great deal of pain and trouble and it took a lot of effort to get here. But you are here.

And the rest of us truly take inspiration from your presence.

Most of you want to be here on Sunday, because it helps you get through the rest of the week, doesn't it?

Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.... 
Make it a day of rest, dedicated to me. 
You will be better for it.

I really don't know if anyone in this room suffers from sleep deprivation. But, we all have known people, and have read about people who seem to thrive on only 3 or 4 hours of sleep a day, haven't we? I can't remember what the medical term is for that, but you know what I mean.

Some of you may have seen the recent article in the paper of a recent study of these people. Actually, several longitudinal studies have shown that these people -- who may supplement their 3 hours of nightly sleep with a brief nap or two during the day -- naps usually of only 10 - 20 minutes duration -- these studies show that these people, for the most part, show no diminished brain processes, no diminished motor skills, no diminished capacities what-so-ever. 
In fact, people who experience this particular sleep pattern are frequently our most brilliant, our most creative, our most talented people. 
But, there is one curious finding of these studies. For the most part, these people don't grow old. These people do not live to be 80 and 90 or 100. Most don't make it into their sixties. While these people go through their lives as though they were somehow super-charged, something happens to their bodies that cuts short the expected life span of most mortals.

It is possible to ignore our internal clocks and to silence the circadian rhythm our Creator endowed us with.

But, when we do, we shorten our God-given time and short-circuit our God-given endowments. Modern scientific evidence tells us what our faith has passed on for centuries, we absolutely need periodic time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Our bodies and our minds, do in fact experience a rejuvenation during periodic periods of rest:
On a daily basis, on a weekly basis, on an annual basis.

We ignore our God created rhythms at our own peril.

We may not fully understand what happens when we stop daily and weekly, and meditate and pray and experience the community of Christ, but we are better for it.

There is healing power in the ritual of observing a sabbath.

There is healing power in the ritual of going to church regularly.

There is healing power in taking time regularly to dwell on things beyond our selves, to cultivate the presence of Christ, to exercise our souls.

Observe the sabbath and keep it holy. Behold, I make all things new again. ..I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end. To anyone who is thirsty, I will give the right to drink from the spring of the water of life without paying for it. Whoever wins the victory will receive this from me: I will be his God, and he will be my child.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, for sure, there is healing power in ritual. Many of you in this room already know the truth of this. And the good news for the rest of us, is that we can test this out.

We are better off, unquestionably, unequivocally, and undoubtedly, when we observe a ritual of going to church regularly. When we observe a ritual of daily quiet time in prayer. When we observe a ritual of giving thanks to God for all things in our lives.

There is healing power in ritual.

You know it.

God promises it.

Tell the children.

Tell your friends.

Tell everyone you know.

Something powerful is going on here.

Amen.

How to Live Healthier and Longer:
Focus on Lively Virtues Worthy of Cultivation:
Find Out About The Power of Prayer
Find Out About The Power of Attitude
Find Out About The Power of Ritual
Find Out About The Power of Community
Find Out About The Power of Forgiveness
Find Out About The Power of Transcendence
Find Out About The Power of Laughter

References:

Research Study:
Prayer Helps Heart Patients