"In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, in lighitng our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross."    -Terullian, 3rd Century Bishop

During our worship in the Episcopal Church, it's common to see folks crossing themselves a number of times.  Because we are Episcopalians, we don't all engage in this symbolic act at the same moments during the Eucharist.  Some of us cross ourselves several times, some only once or twice.  Clearly, this gesture is one that has been a part of Christian life and prayer for many centuries. 

I like that Tertullian notes all of the ordinary events of life that are highlighted by the sign of the cross - putting on one's shoes, lying down, lighting candles (a third century equivalent of turning on the lights...), going out, coming in... all of it, marked by a simple, holy gesture - making the sign of the cross over oneself. 

We are a sacramental people - we have the audacity to believe that the God who transforms bread and wine into Eucharist and oridinary water into the bath of new life at baptism also desires to sanctify us!

Making a sign of the cross over ourselves might be a good way of being more conscious of the sacred character of our lives and all that we do and are about.  I wonder if there would be a differnece if we made the sign of the cross over ourselves before leaving for work, walking into school, or before sitting down to share a meal or watch television.  What if we blessed ourselves when we laid down at night in our beds?  What those ancient Christians understood, and what Tertullian expresses so clearly, is that all of these moments, and so many more, are windows into the sacred.  Our days are filled with icons, with small "s" sacraments. 

Maybe if we blessed ourselves throughout the day, using the sign of the cross,  we might be reminded a bit more about the sacred gift that is this life we are given.