I came across an ancient Persian poem by a poet named Hafiz, written in the 1300s. It made me think of worship.
Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, “you owe me.” Look what happens to a love like that, it lights up the whole sky.
I’ve heard some refer to worship as a duty, as something we “owe” to God. But is that what it’s all about? Does God have some kind of insecure ego that requires constant stroking to keep him from freaking out? Or does he simply take pleasure in pouring out blessing after blessing on the just and unjust alike?
I think the earth’s most basic and appropriate response the the sun’s light is acceptance. It is being warmed by the glow.
Perhaps worship is that faint reflective glow that bounces back toward the sun from the surface of the earth. Just like the moon has no light of her own but shines the sun’s like back to him, perhaps that’s what we do as well.