Reverence Folklore

 

Written Reverence

Reverence – a deep respect for someone or something – is at the heart of almost all folklore. Regardless of the form (tales, folk art, folk dance, legends, etc.) the capacity to appreciate and implement truth, beauty and wisdom are highly valued qualities either sought or discarded.

In all cases it is the absence or the presence of these traits that propel forward the morals of a specific culture.

A recent DailyGood.Org article explored the topic of reverence from the perspective of eight well known thought-provoking writers .

Here are two responses that stood out for us: 

Wendell Berry

We have lived by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. And this has been based on the even flimsier assumption that we could know with any certainty what was good even for us. We have fulfilled the danger of this by making our personal pride and greed the standard of our behavior toward the world - to the incalculable disadvantage of the world and every living thing in it… We must change our lives, so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and to learn what is good for it. We must learn to cooperate in its processes, and to yield to its limits. But even more important, we must learn to acknowledge that the creation is full of mystery; we will never entirely understand it… We must recover the sense of the majesty of creation, and the ability to be worshipful in its presence. For I do not doubt that it is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it. 

Joanna Macy

Spiritual exercises for cultivating reverence for life arise now out of many traditions and are welcomed by people regardless of their religious affiliation…. This is a prayer from the Laguna Pueblo people: "I add my breath to your breath that our days may be long on the Earth, that the days of our people may be long, that we shall be as one person, that we may finish our road together.” 

Writers like these two use their ability to communicate in ways that are intended to uplift life in general. Seeking high ground they have a reverence for their own skills of envisioning and articulating and for the intelligence and compassion of readers what value life in all of its forms.  

Along the way they help us to better see ourselves and our choices.  They do so with compassion which invites us to make decisions based upon the timeless treasures of truth, beauty, and wisdom.

To read the complete article, click here.

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