worship day as part of a Christian-lived week

Sunday is something to dress up and look forward to; not as routine; not as obligation, but as a chance to be unrestrained in praising God together with the company of fellow pilgrims. But this is just a chance to indulge and feel good, or in times of trouble, to find solace and comfort. And if the lessons and teaching scratch an itch or poke a sensitive spot then there is that added bonus: as one of the prolific sermon writing stalwarts of the 1800s would say, "to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." (google attributes the line to diverse sources)
 
But what about the rest of the waking hours in the week? What does it look like (outsider view) to be a follower of Rabbi Jesus, man of the Galilee and carpenter? And what does it feel like (insider view) to walk a Christian walk from day to day in good times and in bad? Seen from the outside there may be times when such a person seems modest about themselves, but perhaps is forthcoming when asked about God (three in one). Polite, tidy, and behaving nicely quickly come to mind in free association of "Christian," but those are incidental to what is going on in the person's heart, whether by habit or with mindful purposefulness.
 
Of course a person grows physically and spiritually in the course of life experiences, whether they are first-hand or observed in others through by-standing, word of mouth, writings or other recordings, fiction or non-fiction, prose or verse, sung or spoken. Perhaps this spiritual maturation follows similar direction no matter the discipline or details of the religion: as a result of firm foundations, the person is able to accept wider and wider divergence from doxa, less black-and-white situations and yet be guided through on a steadfast course. Tolerance for ambiguity and ambivalence expands and the ability to live with doubt or unknowable things grows, too.
 
And so, when asked what it means to be a Christian the rest of the week, outside of worship services and organized or spontaneous acts of charity and love for fellow creatures, perhaps it comes down to this: such a person makes sustained and repeating effort to open her or his heart to hear the Will of God, to be aware of the voice of one's ego or that of the Tempter, and turn the other way and respond to God's call at each instance. Being governed by God's will and the commands to Love God, as well as to Love Your Neighbor as You Do Yourself, certain decisions and reactions from such a person may puzzle someone governed by consumer efficiency or the dictates of maximizing fun or pleasure.
 
So don't miss a chance for fellowship and glorifying God on Sunday morning, but that is not the place where one's Christian road lies. That walk is outside the walls of the worship room.

Infinity is a pretty big place

Although we may reach of analogies or visual shorthand (a drop in an ocean), we simply cannot imagine much less embrace the full meaning of God's power, nature, and presence. Yet perhaps there is no need to attempt to fathom or encompass this infinity. Thinking of the experience of singing with the music, ideally in tune, there is the knowledge that one is part of something big and flowing along in contact with that larger something. Likewise swimming in a river or large body of water, one can be in the flow and know it's embrace entirely without ever wrapping one's arms around the thing. So perhaps that is our lot in this Vale of Tears: seek after God and try to know him better, even as he has known us utterly --from before conception and unto after we are dust. The merest grasp of power, majesty, glory and light connects us to the infinite and thereby renews and refreshes us.

Seeing with the ‘eyes of your heart’ (Ephesians 1: 18-19)

This figure of speech echoes Antoine Saint-Exupery's Mr. Fox when he tells the Little Prince that "It is only with the heart that one truly sees." And perhaps this relates to the idea of wisdom being defined as Discerning God's Will in any given matter - being able to separate one's own will from that of God within oneself and knowing (not 'saber' but 'conocer' in Spanish; or in English not 'head knowledge' but the 'heart knowledge' of personal experience of a thing).

    In order to appreciate the consequence of having more rather than less wisdom, consider the different perception level of an expert versus novice; for example, in the arena of forest management --the expert sees the whole and connection to the parts, as well as the inner workings of each part of the forest as it unfolds on a 12 month cycle and on a generational cycle of succession from one forest-type to another. The novice sees much of a sameness and with imagination probably shackled to the immediate present, not the things that came before and those to follow. As a result of the 'wise' vision, a person can make better decisions and actions.

    Or maybe there could be two experts - one is an analytical consultant of forests, but the other grew up surviving in the seasons of the woodland and sees things in different, but no less sophisticated terms. Comparing those two different kinds of wisdom a different vision emerges and from that follows the available actions and impulses. So there is consequence to pursuing deeper knowledge and wider wisdom in relating to one's Neighbors and one's God. Even though one can never reach the end of the learning process, merely to advance a few steps takes one to the next rise and the resulting view that spreads out before one's eyes.

Your appetites - Do you feel like having God today?

The metaphor of appetite works well not only for sin but for holiness, too:
 
-Some have a big appetite, others don't.
-Some have a craving for it, based on a past experience.
-The description and anticipation can be part of the total experience.
-The setting (decoration, lighting, music, company you share) affects the taste.
-Certain tastes are acquired and at first bite may lead to rejection.
-There can be disorders (unbalanced gorging/purging; peculiar diets) in one's appetite.
-Sometimes the smell is so delicious, the actual taste is a let-down.
-Some prefer to graze continually during the day; others have one big meal.
-Similar ingredients in a casual form taste differently when consumed at formal table.
-One's tastes change from childhood into old age.
-What is most nutritional is not always what is loaded with most flavors.
-Drinking or eating alone is a different experience to sharing the time.
-Certain things pique one's appetite, while others dull it.
-Eating or drinking after a period of fasting (illness or spiritual practice) is deeply fulfilling.
-There is a continuous cycle of hunger, fulfillment and revitalization, return to hunger. One can not consume infinite amount. No matter how rich or poor the need is daily and the allotted amount is limited.
 
Is God on your menu today? Or did you already have that this week?
 
By God perhaps we mean not omnipotence and infinite time and space, but rather Divine Presence or Mindfulness and a grateful heart. Or perhaps appetite for God could mean one's hunger for The Word of God (intellectual engagement; social learning) and a heart of LovingKindness - something that reaches up for transcendence and reaches out for one's neighbor's caring.