Rote

Hi, how are you?

Fine, how are you?

End of conversation. 

Have you ever had that experience?  In our fast-track culture today conversations can frequently be short and mechanical. 

Rote describes an established, monotonous series of actions or a habitual routine performed mechanically. How many things do you think we do each day out of habit?  It is likely countless from the time we wake up in the morning until bedtime. 

A favorite motivational speaker that I have heard a number of times describes how we make the choice of our routines and habits which quickly define the direction of our day. 

He asks which side of the menu we choose when we start our day, the Terrific side or the Terrible side.  Then he begins to describe in detail how each day goes based on our decisions and choices.  The Terrible side starts with hitting the snooze button numerous times before bolting out of bed, stubbing our toe, cutting ourselves while shaving, spilling our hot coffee in our lap while backing out of the driveway, sitting behind another vehicle at a stop sign who just can’t seem to apply the gas pedal, and so on.  You get the idea.

Beginning our day with the Terrific side of the menu starts out with some inspirational reading, some exercise, a good breakfast etc. As he says, we choose. 

There is also another most important aspect that we choose as well.

Are there times of “rote-ness” in our relationships?  Do we allow mechanical devices to convert our most important relationships to be mechanical as well?  We often hear about or observe people sitting in a restaurant across from each other at a table totally consumed with their handheld devices.  Their conversations and responses to each other are short and mechanical.  There’s more.

Let’s go deeper.  How is our relationship with God?  Is it short and mechanical or are we totally consumed with God and His call to us.  I am sure we all have our weak moments but overall can we say that we are fully attentive to God in our prayer and not mechanical.  For example, when we say grace before meals do we visualize what we are saying? 

Bless us oh Lord (mentally envisioning everyone at this meal even if it is just me),

and these thy gifts (considering where these gifts from God originated from, fields, laborers…),

which we are (or I am) about to receive from thy bounty (God’s incredible creation as a whole),

through Christ our Lord (envisioning our Redeemer),

Amen (with great thanksgiving). 

When we say the Our Father or the Hail Mary or any other of our learned prayers can we envision being face-to-face with God or with Mary, our intercessor?  After all, our prayers are conversations.  Eliminating the rote-ness out of our prayers makes them more personal and creates a greater closeness with our Lord who wants that intimate relationship with us. 

Certainly, having the habit of ongoing prayer is a great thing.  Making all of our prayers a personal encounter with God and meditating on His presence and message to us makes the day ahead and our lives more greatly blessed.  So let us get Face to Face with God in our prayers and Shine Like the Son.  God bless you.

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