Sometimes I wonder if I would instruct into equally a monk! Actually I don’t genuinely wonder, because I am fairly certain I would blow it. There is as well as then much virtually beingness a monk that I abide by attractive. But I fearfulness that I idealize what beingness a monk means. And that is funny, since I conduct maintain been to whatever release of monasteries as well as convents as well as genuinely know quite a few monks as well as nuns.
If I am honest, what genuinely attracts me is non beingness a monk, but it is the mode of life that monks as well as nuns undertake. That attraction is deepened yesteryear the fact that a grouping of them undertake that life together inwards community. And they practise that life together amongst such intentionality. I am certain that intentionality is a big slice of the attraction for me as well as it is belike why I know I would blow it! That is because intentionality has to hold out married to dependent to hold out effective.
So I content myself to staying on the margins of monastic life. Fortunately the monastic community welcomes people who similar to practise equally much equally nosotros can. And I tin honestly tell that merely about days I practise ameliorate as well as merely about days I am a dismal failure. And I genuinely know this has piddling to practise amongst monks as well as the monastic ways. I know in that place are merely about Quakers as well as Methodists as well as a whole bunch of others who practise their spiritual lives equally fully equally the monks as well as nuns. I know that ane does non conduct maintain to bring together the monastery to hold out fully spiritual.
If I am honest, what genuinely attracts me is non beingness a monk, but it is the mode of life that monks as well as nuns undertake. That attraction is deepened yesteryear the fact that a grouping of them undertake that life together inwards community. And they practise that life together amongst such intentionality. I am certain that intentionality is a big slice of the attraction for me as well as it is belike why I know I would blow it! That is because intentionality has to hold out married to dependent to hold out effective.
So I content myself to staying on the margins of monastic life. Fortunately the monastic community welcomes people who similar to practise equally much equally nosotros can. And I tin honestly tell that merely about days I practise ameliorate as well as merely about days I am a dismal failure. And I genuinely know this has piddling to practise amongst monks as well as the monastic ways. I know in that place are merely about Quakers as well as Methodists as well as a whole bunch of others who practise their spiritual lives equally fully equally the monks as well as nuns. I know that ane does non conduct maintain to bring together the monastery to hold out fully spiritual.
So I, a humble Quaker, expire on to alive at the monastic margins as well as give cheers for the assistance the monastic tradition offers to assist me on my spiritual journey. One such big assist is the lectionary---the daily readings that I know conduct maintain house every 24-hour interval inwards the Benedictine monasteries across this land. I know the real disciplined monks, similar my monastic friends at Gethsemani Abbey inwards Kentucky, practise worship 7 times a day! I know I tin practise it too. When I view Gethsemani, I instruct upwardly as well as “go to church” at 3:15am for the start of 7 times! The concluding ane happens at 7:30pm, which makes quite a day!
With the lectionary I endeavor to participate inwards ane or 2 of those 7 options. I ever know in that place volition hold out readings from the Psalms as well as from scripture. I appreciate the routine of exposure to that spiritual resource. Last night, for example, I was able to melody into the Compline reading---that reading I know my monk friends were doing at 7:30.
I saw that ane of the Psalm passages to hold out read was Psalm 16. I loved the opening words. “Preserve me, Lord.” What a wonderful prayer. For sure, it makes feel equally a prayer said equally ane is heading to bed. Through the nighttime nosotros pray, save me Lord. Another translation says, “Protect me, Lord.”
Then the Psalmist says, “I set my promise inwards you.” I similar that intentionality to promise inwards the Lord. God is my hope, I think. But the sneaky enquiry pops into my head: practise I genuinely alive life amongst promise inwards God? I force this sentiment a piddling further. Can I honestly tell inwards what I hope?
I am certain I conduct maintain many hopes. I conduct maintain hopes for my kids and, now, my grandkids. I conduct maintain hopes for my students, my friends, etc. These are valid hopes as well as adept hopes. But I recognize they are non ultimate hopes. I wonder if in that place cannot hold out but ane ultimate hope? I desire to hold out able to say---and to live---into that ane ultimate hope, namely, my promise inwards God.
Then I could bring together the Psalmist inwards the side yesteryear side line. “You are my Lord, inwards yous lone is all my good.” I desire that to hold out to a greater extent than than words on a page or on the screen. I desire that to hold out to a greater extent than than a adept sentiment or a lofty ideal. I desire it to hold out real---to hold out incarnated inwards my life on a daily basis. The Psalmist continues: “You, Lord, are my inheritance as well as my cup. You command my destiny, the lot marked out for me is of the best, my inheritance is all I could enquire for.”
At my historic menstruation I don’t remember virtually inheritance! Rather I remember virtually what my kids volition inherit when I am gone. Not much, I dare say! But what if it is truthful that I practise conduct maintain an inheritance? What if God is my inheritance? The adept intelligence is I could start drawing on this inheritance inwards this lifetime. I don’t conduct maintain to hold out dead to instruct something.
Put my life inwards God’s hands as well as comprehend the destiny set out for me. I banking enterprise notation the Psalmist did non tell pre-destiny. I conduct maintain a destiny; God tin hold out my inheritance. Of course, I tin however tell no thanks! That is what is as well as then slow to do. Say no cheers as well as become virtually living my life just the mode I desire to alive it. “Not thy will, but my will.” That is what the monks conduct maintain given up. That is why I abide by them---or their mode of life---attractive.
I desire to comprehend that mode of life as well as claim my inheritance. I desire to engage the destiny God has inwards hear for me. And through the procedure I tin pray, “Preserve me, Lord.”
With the lectionary I endeavor to participate inwards ane or 2 of those 7 options. I ever know in that place volition hold out readings from the Psalms as well as from scripture. I appreciate the routine of exposure to that spiritual resource. Last night, for example, I was able to melody into the Compline reading---that reading I know my monk friends were doing at 7:30.
I saw that ane of the Psalm passages to hold out read was Psalm 16. I loved the opening words. “Preserve me, Lord.” What a wonderful prayer. For sure, it makes feel equally a prayer said equally ane is heading to bed. Through the nighttime nosotros pray, save me Lord. Another translation says, “Protect me, Lord.”
Then the Psalmist says, “I set my promise inwards you.” I similar that intentionality to promise inwards the Lord. God is my hope, I think. But the sneaky enquiry pops into my head: practise I genuinely alive life amongst promise inwards God? I force this sentiment a piddling further. Can I honestly tell inwards what I hope?
I am certain I conduct maintain many hopes. I conduct maintain hopes for my kids and, now, my grandkids. I conduct maintain hopes for my students, my friends, etc. These are valid hopes as well as adept hopes. But I recognize they are non ultimate hopes. I wonder if in that place cannot hold out but ane ultimate hope? I desire to hold out able to say---and to live---into that ane ultimate hope, namely, my promise inwards God.
Then I could bring together the Psalmist inwards the side yesteryear side line. “You are my Lord, inwards yous lone is all my good.” I desire that to hold out to a greater extent than than words on a page or on the screen. I desire that to hold out to a greater extent than than a adept sentiment or a lofty ideal. I desire it to hold out real---to hold out incarnated inwards my life on a daily basis. The Psalmist continues: “You, Lord, are my inheritance as well as my cup. You command my destiny, the lot marked out for me is of the best, my inheritance is all I could enquire for.”
At my historic menstruation I don’t remember virtually inheritance! Rather I remember virtually what my kids volition inherit when I am gone. Not much, I dare say! But what if it is truthful that I practise conduct maintain an inheritance? What if God is my inheritance? The adept intelligence is I could start drawing on this inheritance inwards this lifetime. I don’t conduct maintain to hold out dead to instruct something.
Put my life inwards God’s hands as well as comprehend the destiny set out for me. I banking enterprise notation the Psalmist did non tell pre-destiny. I conduct maintain a destiny; God tin hold out my inheritance. Of course, I tin however tell no thanks! That is what is as well as then slow to do. Say no cheers as well as become virtually living my life just the mode I desire to alive it. “Not thy will, but my will.” That is what the monks conduct maintain given up. That is why I abide by them---or their mode of life---attractive.
I desire to comprehend that mode of life as well as claim my inheritance. I desire to engage the destiny God has inwards hear for me. And through the procedure I tin pray, “Preserve me, Lord.”
Buat lebih berguna, kongsi:
