Don't Bow To Tradition

There's an urban (like) legend about a little, centuries old, country parish somewhere in the UK where the worship leaders had a tradition of getting half way up the center aisle, stopping, and bowing before proceeding up to the altar. When asked why the worship leaders were bowing in what appeared to be such a random place, no one could give an answer. It's just the way they'd "always done things." 

One parishioner, determined to sleuth out the origin of this odd tradition, discovered that before the most recent renovations (several generations ago) took place, a very low arch stood over the center aisle. The procession of worship leaders had to bow at that spot in order to get up to the altar. Now, the arch was gone. But the tradition remained.

Apparently, no one had ever bothered to ask "why?"

One of our favorite bloggers, Seth Godin, recently urged his readers to ask "what's the point?" 

That's a purposeful question if we ever heard one.

Are you doing what matters? Or are you just doing what you (or somebody before you) has always done, the way you (or somebody before you) has always done it? When was the last time you challenged yourself and/or your coworkers to wrestle with "what's the point?"

We're not saying all traditions are bad. But don't bow to it...unless, of course, it makes sense.

 

 Hey church leaders: 

You might be interested in this little booklet. Click on the book cover below for more info.

 

 

Comments

[Ray Bebee]

Sounds like the opening scene in "Fiddler on the Roof".

[Kelly]

LOL - well, it's a great story that's been passed around in various forms because it illustrates the way in which people do things without thinking about them. Thanks for joining the conversation, Ray!