On Hands and Knees

I cleaned my kitchen floors yesterday.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but they were unbelievably gross.  Old Cheerios, crusted cranberries, sticky spots, and my tresses littered the corners of the kitchen:  The whole gang was there!  I sweep often, but rarely do I get on my hands and knees to scrub. 

While working on the floors I heard Fred Craddock preach an unassuming, outstanding sermon.  My goodness.  It was one of those sermons where the words were written just for me, just for that day, just for that moment.  And when a sermon helps me realize who I am and who I can be in Christ, that is gift.    

It didn't occur to me until later I might've actually heard the sermon because of my posture. 

I do not normally find myself in a posture of humility, and I am not normally a humble person.  There's no doubt Craddock's sermons are easy on the ears, but I think being on hands and knees helped me hear.  Perhaps a step forward in humility is first assuming the position.

Humility makes us better hearers and by physically lowering ourselves, we embrace the posture of servanthood Jesus modeled and taught. I wonder how much we miss by sitting, walking, running, or even standing behind a pulpit. 

A posture of humility can help us receive in an attitude of humility.  And maybe when our bodies are in a position to receive, our ears (and lives) more readily follow suit.

"The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen…I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees before the Blessed Sacrament."  
Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God