Ritual has great power to infuse a sense of deeper connection among people. Recognizing the sacred responsibility that comes with a driver’s license/licence can invest a new driver with an inner motivation to drive safely and considerately. Just as potent as it is to ceremonially inaugurate a new driver’s driving career, it is as powerful to ritually decommission an older person’s licence when they decide to stop driving or are no longer capable of driving.
This decommissioning of a Driver’s Licence might be held at home or in the gathering place of one’s faith community.
Supplies:
- candle (lit ahead of time) or bowl of water
- frame in which to put license
Decommissioning Ritual
Invite the retiring driver to come forward holding their licence.
The retiring driver steps forward and presents their/her/his licence to the officiant.
Introduction and explanation
Dear ones, we join [Name] in gratitude for all their/her/his years as a driver.
With them/her/him we celebrate the memories of places and people visited, tasks accomplished, and missions undertaken while driving hundreds of thousands of miles.
We honour their/her/his recognition that their/her/his days of driving are done.
Their/Her/His odometer reading is beyond counting.
May they/she/he sit back in the passenger seat, recline it a bit, and enjoy very well-earned rides offered by family and friends for the rest of their/her/his days.
Community blessing
Now we will pass the licence around. I invite you to hold it with both hands and offer your blessing on it, on [name of driver], and on every mile they/she/he drove for every year since they/she/he first got their/her/his license.
As this will take time, music might be played or sung.
Blessing action – after the license has been passed around:
We invoke the power and presence of the Holy One in this special moment.
The officiant holds the licence and passes it swiftly through the flame of the candle three times, or sprinkles it with water three times, as an act of blessing.
Congratulations
Join me saying, “Hooray, [Name]!” Use a phrase appropriate to your environment.
Insert the licence into the frame and hand the frame to the retired driver.
