Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monastic Wisdom
"The formation of a man is his moral training, his life is the love of God." William of St. Thierry, The Golden Epistle, # 169.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
In the Monastery and Out
In the monastery and outside the monastery, most of us lead just ordinary lives, doing our work, reading Scripture and taking time to pray. All of us who follow the Lord Jesus continue to have a life of prayer, no matter how poor that life may be. Into that poverty the Lord Jesus sometimes reaches out and touches us--perhaps in very gentle way or perhaps with a strong indication of His presence. Although generally God reaches into our silence and our searching, there are times when God just comes into our lives even when we are resisting.This is from Abbot Phillip at Christ in the Desert in New Mexico. Lately, I’ve taken to reading homilys, etc. posted by abbots from various monasteries because I find them so helpful ; they seem steeped in monastic wisdom, which should be no surprise. It may be that Abbot Phillip is a bit optimistic about the daily routine most people follow, even for most Christians, but I still think he’s pretty much on the mark. Most of us just go through our lives following the daily routine, fulfilling the duties of our station. That’s good, and really no different for monks or lay people.
God's goodness to us does not depend on our goodness to God. God knows what each of us needs to continue our path to Him. God can leave us in darkness so that we can grow or God can give us light so that we can grow. Most of us probably prefer light but the secret of the spiritual life is always simple confidence and trust in God. What is happening right now is His gift of love to us if we can see it.
But, it’s also true that, however boring or numbing that daily routine can seem, God is present through all of it. That’s hard to remember in the midst of the daily grind, much less really appreciate the fact. Following a routine that includes even a few Benedictine practices, such as morning and evening prayer, some spiritual reading, and study integrated into the daily schedule helps keep us grounded in that truth. Periodic prayer breaks, no matter how brief, keep us grounded in the amazing reality in which we live.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Simplicity
William of St. Thiery - The Golden Epistle #49."For properly speaking simplicity is a will that is wholly turned toward God, seeking one thing from the Lord with all earnestness, without any desire to disperse its energies in the world. Or again simplicity is true humility in conversion, more concerned with the inner reality of virtue than with a reputation for it. The simple man does not mind seeming to be foolish in the eyes of the world that he may be wise in the sight of God."
“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.”Psalm 27:4 (RSV)
I post these quotes because, having read them a few days ago, I can’t seem to get away from them. How difficult it is to keep focused on one thing, it seems our culture today is directed only toward creating distractions. All we see, anywhere we turn, the energy is directed to forcing us, beyond our will, to “disperse our energies in the world.”
So, as Advent begins, I offer these words of ancient wisdom as an aid in remaining focused on this season of hope.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Missing in Action
I’ve been missing in action the last two or three weeks due to a variety of factors. About three weeks ago, I came down with a mild sinus infection. However, it traveled to the drain tube in the corner of my right eye and the lingering infection created a blockage. It was a very unpleasant experience, with watery, messy drainage, which should have gone down into my sinuses and obstructed vision at best, nearly blinded me on the right side at worst. However, with a course of Keflex, it seemed to clear up. Then on Monday, I had to travel to Huntsville, AL, which for several reasons, was both a very worthwhile trip and a trip from hell. I returned home Thursday worn out, with a raging cold and my eye infection back in full force. That’s been the story of my life for the last month or so.
Anyway, as much as possible, to keep my mind off my troubles, I’ve been working on reading and understanding The Golden Epistle, by William of St. Thierry. I have learned to appreciate the faith and wisdom with which William writes. I find, although this was written to a group of Carthusian novices living in a monastery circa the 12th century as a book on monastic life, William is giving a pretty good description of what the experience of conversion really means in the life of any Christian. Too, like any good monastic, William never forgets the practical necessities of every day life. For example, there’s this from the first chapter.
Sometimes, it’s hard to remember what we're here on this earth for. We get wrapped up in the pressures of building a career, keeping a home together despite so many pressures aiming to fragment family life, that these become all consuming. How seldom do we stop and take a step back to look at ourselves and what’s going on in life; where we are and where we are going. We forget simply because we become too busy.
William calls us to prudence, to avoid distraction from the real purpose of our lives, not to build a successful career, but to “aim at the summit of all perfection.” He realizes it’s a task involving, even in a Carthusian monastery in the 12th century, effort, but he calls for fervent effort to keep our real purpose always before our eyes. The irony is, if we do this, if we put our effort in the right place, everything else becomes easier: “All the energies of the body are brought into play.” Take a few minutes today and get your bearings, you might be surprised at the results.
Anyway, as much as possible, to keep my mind off my troubles, I’ve been working on reading and understanding The Golden Epistle, by William of St. Thierry. I have learned to appreciate the faith and wisdom with which William writes. I find, although this was written to a group of Carthusian novices living in a monastery circa the 12th century as a book on monastic life, William is giving a pretty good description of what the experience of conversion really means in the life of any Christian. Too, like any good monastic, William never forgets the practical necessities of every day life. For example, there’s this from the first chapter.
Sometimes, it’s hard to remember what we're here on this earth for. We get wrapped up in the pressures of building a career, keeping a home together despite so many pressures aiming to fragment family life, that these become all consuming. How seldom do we stop and take a step back to look at ourselves and what’s going on in life; where we are and where we are going. We forget simply because we become too busy.
XXIII 87. “However, the serious and prudent soul is ready to undertake all work and is not distracted by it but rather finds it a means to greater recollection. It always keeps in sight not so much what it is doing as the purpose of its activity and so aims at the summit of all perfection. The more truly such an effort is made, the more fervently and the more faithfully is manual work done and all the energies of the body are brought into play.”
William calls us to prudence, to avoid distraction from the real purpose of our lives, not to build a successful career, but to “aim at the summit of all perfection.” He realizes it’s a task involving, even in a Carthusian monastery in the 12th century, effort, but he calls for fervent effort to keep our real purpose always before our eyes. The irony is, if we do this, if we put our effort in the right place, everything else becomes easier: “All the energies of the body are brought into play.” Take a few minutes today and get your bearings, you might be surprised at the results.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thinking Too Much
I become consciously aware of a slightly ironic situation going on that surprised me when I thought about it. It’s one of those things that you know about but vaguely, and when you do wake up to it, you’re a little surprised.
I need to explain.
I have a study downstairs in our basement. It’s an ideal place to study, read, or write blog posts. It has lots of work space, cabinets, drawers, etc. I have a nice desktop computer with a big screen and great sound system. It really is ideal. The problem is, that for the last year or so, I’ll go down, sit myself in front of the computer, and stare at the screen. I can’t do a lick of work down there. I just go on automatic pilot and become a vegetable.
On the other hand, I have a little space in one corner of our living room with an old Kennedy rocker in it. It’s open to a fairly high traffic area, in fact to most of what goes on in the house. I also have a little net-book computer that has a small screen and touchy keyboard. Yet, when I take that netbook and sit down in that rocker, I could write or read or study all day. It’s crazy.
Oh, and to add a further little twist, one thing I use my study for on an almost daily basis, is lectio. Go figure.
I got to thinking about the situation, and my train of thought led me to think about the very essence of being Christian. If you think about it, the entire basis of our faith is paradox, if not downright irony. First, the very idea of a Messiah who comes as the sacrificial lamb who was slain, not the much expected conquering hero. There is the truth about Christ’s dying destroying death, and that we Christians must die to ourselves to live. Baptism, a sacramental drowning and rebirth is a huge paradox. I could go on, the mysteries are endless.
And that is why I came into the Church, at least one reason. The Church doesn’t deny or try to explain away these mysteries, they accept them as such. Coming from a Presbyterian background with its emphasis on the intellectual, this was a refreshing change and it made sense of things I had struggled with for years, and years, and years. It’s also present in Benedictine spirituality in spades. It is the ultimate paradox that a monk would retreat within cloister walls in order to be truly and finally free.
So, my little paradox has reminded me of many things that are deeply important and that I tend to take for granted in my faith. I think it was a touch of grace, or, perhaps I’m just thinking too much.
I need to explain.
I have a study downstairs in our basement. It’s an ideal place to study, read, or write blog posts. It has lots of work space, cabinets, drawers, etc. I have a nice desktop computer with a big screen and great sound system. It really is ideal. The problem is, that for the last year or so, I’ll go down, sit myself in front of the computer, and stare at the screen. I can’t do a lick of work down there. I just go on automatic pilot and become a vegetable.
On the other hand, I have a little space in one corner of our living room with an old Kennedy rocker in it. It’s open to a fairly high traffic area, in fact to most of what goes on in the house. I also have a little net-book computer that has a small screen and touchy keyboard. Yet, when I take that netbook and sit down in that rocker, I could write or read or study all day. It’s crazy.
Oh, and to add a further little twist, one thing I use my study for on an almost daily basis, is lectio. Go figure.
I got to thinking about the situation, and my train of thought led me to think about the very essence of being Christian. If you think about it, the entire basis of our faith is paradox, if not downright irony. First, the very idea of a Messiah who comes as the sacrificial lamb who was slain, not the much expected conquering hero. There is the truth about Christ’s dying destroying death, and that we Christians must die to ourselves to live. Baptism, a sacramental drowning and rebirth is a huge paradox. I could go on, the mysteries are endless.
And that is why I came into the Church, at least one reason. The Church doesn’t deny or try to explain away these mysteries, they accept them as such. Coming from a Presbyterian background with its emphasis on the intellectual, this was a refreshing change and it made sense of things I had struggled with for years, and years, and years. It’s also present in Benedictine spirituality in spades. It is the ultimate paradox that a monk would retreat within cloister walls in order to be truly and finally free.
So, my little paradox has reminded me of many things that are deeply important and that I tend to take for granted in my faith. I think it was a touch of grace, or, perhaps I’m just thinking too much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)