Proskuneo

I am a word lover. Not just THE Word, but words in general. And, I love discovering the meanings of words from other languages because to me, a new word that is full of meaning to me unlocks a whole new set of connections in my brain.

Example. Last Sunday's sermon was about Worship, and the point was that worship is not only what we do when we sing on Sunday morning. Proskuneo is the Greek word for worship. I've heard sermons before about worship being something we do all the time and not just in singing, but for me, giving it a new name made the teaching penetrate my being.

One particular definition given stuck with me- proskuneo (literally, to kiss toward) means to empty out all of me and open up to all of Him. So every morning this thought has been with me- emptying and opening- my spiritual act of worship, and it has taken some effort to get to these thoughts. Something like... "what was it I am trying to meditate on this week? Oh yeah, worship, .... but not just with music... like the kind that is all day long,... with everything I do...like breathing... oh yeah, breathing out the self nature of me and breathing in a Christ-like nature.... Right, so I need to try that now... um God, ... take the pride of me and replace it with you today, OK? all day.... help me remember that God, thanks. Amen."

This morning, something amazing happened. When the alarm clock went off (and I turned it off), before my head even left the pillow, my first thought was, "proskuneo." Just that one word. And because that word has developed such meaning for me, I immediately was drawn to a moment of emptying and opening to whatever God would have for me today. Several times, throughout the day, just that word resonating in my head, "proskuneo" conjured images of lying prostrate before my Lord, of kissing His feet, of confessing my sins to him, of thanking him for mercy, "proskuneo." It means all of this to me. It is my prayer in the empty moments between here and there. It reminds me of my place in my relationship with God. It evokes wonder, awe and gratitude.

Worship?.

It just doesn't convey the same messages to me right now.

Now, don't go and start using my word though... If proskuneo starts showing up in every book, song and CD title, I may have to resort to Arabic or something crazy like that.