Ritual

Here’s the thing— I could have posted a Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey, the ash reshteh I make for Noruz, the Hunter House burger I have upon landing in Michigan, my annual Fourth of July / summertime 7 layer bean dip, even a flaming Christmas pudding. And I had planned to.

But then I got to thinking— the @thegfw prompt today is #ritual. Not tradition. Not habit. Not custom.

Ritual. And ritual is more than habit, custom and/or tradition. It is deeper, more ceremonial, formal, solemn, more imbued with meaning and symbolism. Ritual is 礼, a way of ordering our world and civilizing our society. Or so said Confucius.

Ritual is also often religious. And we don’t really do religion. We don’t really do ritual. Tradition, customs, habits: sure. We have plenty. But not ritual, and not religion.

Then I remembered— we had Theo baptized this summer. Not because we believed his sins would be washed away with holy water, but because we wanted our friends and family to gather in celebration and love and togetherness.

And eat this amazing cake from @violetcakeslondon , gorgeously captured by our friend and neighbor @hollyberylphotography

A baptism. A ritual.