Jan 31 - Not An Easy Walk

Hear my prayer, O God;*
Do not hide yourself from my petition.
Listen to me and answer me; *
I have no peace, because of my cares.
Psalm 55:1-2

The third step of humility is that we submit to the prioress or abbot in all obedience…
Benedict's Rule, 7:18 (Chittister, Pg. 84)

Rung three [on the ladder of humility] brings us face to face with our struggle for power. It makes us face an authority outside of ourselves.
Chittister, Pg. 85

This struggle of mine for power, with submission, with others that have authority over me? This is not an easy walk, I need help. I need God to hear my prayer. A few years ago I was in a week long program learning more about myself. One of the exercises was an informal instrument to evaluate how competitive I am. When it was introduced I thought it was going to be easy, that it would confirm what a relaxed, laid-back person I was. Wow, was I surprised! I came out on the "competitive" side. Not just a little bit competitive, but way down at the competitive end of "highly competitive". Then I read further, then thought about myself and how I reacted to situations in the past, and came to the understanding (for me) that being competitive often makes it harder to submit to others, to let others take the lead, to admit that I might not have the best (or only) idea for something...

I think about this as we study "humility". Some parts of humility have been easier, such as when I take stock of myself and realize I can no longer lift as many 80 pound bags of lime as I could when I was a teenager working on the farm. It's just a fact, I am not as strong as I once was. Others are harder. "Submitting" to a superior of one sort or another is, at times, not just hard, it is a real struggle. That struggle brings me face-to-face with my need to pray today's psalm...

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading this book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 30 - Not Our Own Will

Hear my prayer, O God; *
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
Psalm 54:2

…that we love not our own will nor take pleasure in the satisfaction of our desires…
Benedict's Rule 7:31 (Chittister, Pg. 83)

…I must accept the will of God, knowing that in it lies the fullness of life for me…
Chittister, Pg. 84

I ask God to hear my prayers, one of them being that I accept his will for me. I find this to be an ongoing prayer, one I repeat daily, so it seems. Even as I understand that I am broken and need to keep praying that I accept God's will, I still fall into comparing my inside feelings that I lack holiness, with the outside vision of how I think others are holy. And I keep falling into the trap of thinking if I have the outside trappings of those others my inside turmoil will lift. Can't I just let go and move on?

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading this book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 29 - Perseverance And Listening

Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
before him there is a consuming flame,
and round about him a raging storm.
Psalm 50:3

...we must be vigilant every hour…
Benedict's Rule 7:29 (Chittister, Pg. 83)

It is not perfection that leads us to God; it is perseverance.
Chittister, Pg. 83

Persistence I have, and it provides hope that I can grow closer to God; Perfection will not happen in this life. I am glad of persistence. I need the second, third, fourth, … one-hundred and eighty-ninth chance. Continuing takes persistence. While I am trying and trying again I am also glad God does not keep silence. God is not silent. While I only hear (or expect to hear) God's voice on rare occasions I have heard it. Much more often I hear (and see) God not directly but in actions that involve God: Prayers answered, well lived lives that reflect God, active natural events, pleasant days... I hear God even more directly in God's echoes in scripture and spiritual conversations with others.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading this book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 28 - Nourishing The Soul

I entreat you with all my heart, *
be merciful to me according to your promise.
Psalm 119:58

We must then be on guard against any base desire, because death is stationed near the gateway of pleasure.
Benedict's Rule 7:11 (Chittister, Pg. 80)

Choosing God means having to concentrate on nourishing the soul rather than sating the flesh
Chittister, Pg. 82

Remember, the call is for nourishment of the soul, not denial of the flesh. A sentence later Sister Joan reminds us this is about not giving ourselves entirely to the pleasures of the body.

I don't need to worry about never having a pleasant and fulfilling meal, or the joy of feeling my body respond during a workout, rather I need to watch for living my life only for the pleasure of the body. Having made a commitment to the spiritual, I am called to make choices which favor spiritual growth rather than only spending time satisfying myself.

When I think about it again the choice is much simpler: It is just a choice to spend time with God rather than by myself. Or maybe, it is the choice to include God when I am by myself.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading this book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 27 - Realizing God

My heart is stirring with a noble song;
let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; *
my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.
Psalm 45:1

That we may take care to avoid sinful thoughts, we must always say to ourselves: "I shall be blameless in God's sight if I guard myself from my own wickedness."
Benedict's Rule 7:18 (Chittister, Pg. 80)

God, Benedict says quite clearly, is within us to be realized, not outside of us to be stumbled upon.
Chittister, Pg. 80

(Added on Jan 28, from journal entries on the 27th)
We invite God into our lives, or at least I did. I live my life and look at my actions in the world. I may well have periods when my heart is stirring with the noble songs of my love for God. Then there are the periods where I simply put one foot in front of the other, and then there are the times I forget God, where I only look out for myself, or maybe even forget to take care of myself... These times, when I fail to even care for myself, may be the times I am most in danger from Satan. (But I will save Satan for another discussion...)

This then is when my heart needs to be stirred with a noble song, this is where having a habit of reaching out to God, a habit strong enough to push through my own personal laziness, is important. So far I have reached back to God, pushing past my own selfishness, often enough that I still recognize God's call to move beyond my own sinful thoughts. For this I say "Thank You" to God.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading this book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 26 - Steeped In God

In my integrity you hold me fast, *
and shall set me before your face for ever.
Psalm 41:12

The first step of humility, then, is that we keep "the reverence for God always before our eyes" and never forget it.
Benedict's Rule 7:20 (Chittister, Pg. 79)

...being sinless is not enough. Being steeped in the mind of God is most important.
Chittister, Pg. 80

But just how do I keep the "reverence for God always before" my eyes? I cannot keep a crucifix on the windshield when I drive, for example, nor can I quote (at least directly) from the Bible in most of the meetings I am in...

Living my life respecting others, working to speak less and listen more, viewing the stranger as if they might be Christ just might lead to a life where I am reverencing God even when I am not consciously trying. Perhaps this is a start.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 25 - Just As I Am

O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *
my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1

Sisters and Brothers, divine Scripture calls to us saying: "Whoever exalt themselves shall be humbled, and whoever humble themselves shall be exalted."
Benedict's Rule 7:1 (Chittister, Pg. 76)

The goals and values of the spiritual life, in other words, are just plain different from the goals and values we've been taught by the world around us.
Chittister, Pg. 78

As mentioned by Sister Joan, I have spent much of my life confusing "humility" with "humiliation". I may have been taught the difference at one time, but I promptly forgot. I live in a world that tells me I can do anything I put my mind to. This makes me think of my teachers that said "Seton, you have so much potential". The mostly unsaid corollary statements usually included "if only you would do your homework", or "if only you would pay attention in class", or "if only you would not daydream..." It has taken quite a number of adult years for me to realize that while I could have done many things, I can't do all things. This became easier when I finally took stock of my place in life and realized I can't do everything. There just isn't time.

Ten years ago or so at forty-something I finally gave up the dream of being a great professional mountaineer and wilderness explorer. That came as a great relief in many ways. I no longer worry about the "what ifs" and "could have beens". Instead I have the satisfaction of knowing I am still me. Not quite in the physical shape I might like, knowing I can choose more activity (or still less), but definitely me. I have the physical humility to know who I am physically, and the knowledge that should I choose I can make changes.

This understanding of my physical humility provides a model for spiritual and professional humility. For several years of studying Benedictine Spirituality I have struggled. Recently I find my self accepting that I am a professional with an active relationship with God. I have found the Rule of Benedict and the Benedictine traditions and patterns that come from that fit well with my life. When I can let of go of thinking I am in charge I start to realize that God is using me for His work just as I am. I have increasing flashes of understanding that I, a baptized and living believer in Christ's saving grace (even imperfectly believing), and Oblate of Saint Benedict am living the life that God asks of me. Yes, I have to let go of the thought that "I am not good enough" because I am not some label such as "ordained priest", "professed monk", "famous spiritual director", or, for that matter, "great mountain climber". I am Seton, and much to my surprise, I am pretty sure God is using my life.

OK. After three paragraphs of trying to explain it, perhaps even I am beginning to understand humility as being just who I am right now, and being willing to let God use, love, and hold me, even when I don't quite believe it all myself.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule are from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 24 - Silence and Talking

O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *
and you restored me to health.
Psalm 30:2

We absolutely condemn in all places any vulgarity and gossip and talk leading to laughter, and we do not permit a disciple to engage in words of that kind.
Benedict's Rule 5:8 (Chittister, Pg. 73)

The goal of monastic silence, and monastic speech, is respect for others, a sense of place, a spirit of peace. The Rule does not call for absolute silence; it calls for thoughtful talk.
Chittister, Pg. 74

Silence and Talking: I read this and know I still have a long path ahead of me. Experience shows me the results are better when I listen and share than when I simply run my ideas over everyone else. Often someone else has thoughts on the same subject. Sharing and working together we arrive at a clearer, more complete response. To do this I must be silent (at lest for a time).

This sounds great when working with others, but how does this help in my spiritual life, my becoming more the person God calls me to be? Again, I simply need to get out of my own way. I need to become quiet. To listen. Got will communicate, once in a while directly, far more often through the world around me. But, if I am busy talking, I am unlikely to hear any communication from God.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, OSB, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 23 - You Must Want It

Be strong and let your heart take courage, *
all you who wait for the Lord.
Psalm 31:24

This very obedience, however, will be acceptable to God and agreeable to people only if compliance with what is commanded is not cringing or sluggish, or halfhearted...
Benedict's Rule 5:14 (Chittister, Pg. 71)

...you must want it.
Chittister, Pg. 72

So here I am faced, for the second day in a row, with the concept of "obedience". A word I would like to avoid at times. I find myself in a dilemma. After 23 days I am finally getting comfortable with my personal daily prayer habit: In the morning I read the psalms appointed for morning prayer from the Episcopal Church prayer book, the daily portion of the Rule of Benedict, from The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, by Sister Joan Chittister, followed by Joan Chittister's reflection on that portion of the Rule. In the evening I read the psalms appointed for evening prayer in the prayer book. To put a bit of structure in the morning I read the psalms and from Joan Chittister's book in the spirit of Lectio Divina, with my journal with me so I can pick a key passage from each portion of my reading. (And as I write this blog I start by putting down the "key passages" that struck me during my reading as the quotes for the blog.)

This provides a way to share a few thoughts, usually, as you have seen, no more than a paragraph or two. And as the activity starts in the style of Lectio there is little day-to-day connection between the different blog postings.

But today I am faced with a dilemma. The places I go, having re-instituted a habit of reading and reflection that was a part of me for a number of years before I became "too busy" over the last year, are not always the places that make sense to share at the start of a journey. Today my mind was struck both with the psalm verse I quoted above, but also with "For my life is wasted with grief / and my years with sighing" (psalm 31, verse 10). Distinctly not uplifting as we (those of us considering The Community of Hope at St. George's) wrestle to discern our call.

My dilemma illustrates exactly where I am: I want to be obedient. I desire to do what I am commanded without cringing, being sluggish, or being halfhearted. I want to paint a picture of bright acceptance of God's call in this (potential) ministry and the rest of my life. My (mini) redemption is illustrated as the psalmist says in other places in Psalm 31, not only "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble / my eye is consumed with sorrow" (vs. 9), but "In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge..." (vs. 1).

I will end with a Prayer:
Lord grant that I, and the others in this adventure with me, may not only glory in the wonder of accomplishment, but not shy away from our questions and misunderstanding of what you can give us. May we all grow in our comfort of Your presence so we can bring that comfort to others. Amen.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 22 - Do I Really Have To Be Obedient?

Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, *
and he will bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:5

Such people as these immediately put aside their own concerns, abandon their own will, and lay down whatever they have in hand, leaving it unfinished. With the ready step of obedience...
Benedict's Rule 5:7-8 (Chittister, Pg. 68)

...we put down our own concerns, allow ourselves to be led by the insights of another, treat our own best interests with a relaxed grasp. We empty ourselves out so that the presence of God can dome in, tangible and present and divinely human.
Chittister, Pg. 69

Where does this word "obedience" come from? Do I really need to be obedient? I thought I was grown up, no one has control over me... Note to self: "You get to choose your obedience, it's not like your someone is going to put you in time-out if you are disobedient..." (At least if I obey the law and don't get arrested.)  Perhaps now I can admit the need for obedience, the next question I have is "Obedient to what?" To me Sister Joan answers this with "The claims of the community we are in." But I am not a monk, so what "community" are we talking about that has claims? Sister Joan goes on to define these communities: "both old and young; in the person we married; in underlings and children; in old parents and boring in-laws". We could probably come up with quite a number of communities we are in. Then all I need do is listen for the "voice of God in the demands of community life..."

And here I am, somewhat back to the beginning. I come face-to-face with the fact that sometimes even when I hear God, I just don't want to be obedient, I want to do what I want. For this I have no answer, but the Psalm verse has a glimmer of hope: Put my trust in the Lord and he will bring it to pass...

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 20 - Placing My Hope In God

Test me, O Lord, and try me; *
Examine my heart and my mind.
For your love is before my eyes; *
I have walked faithfully with you.
Psalm 26:2-3

Place your hope in God alone. If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not yourself, but be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge.
Benedict's Rule 4:41-43 (Chittister, Pg.61)

Whatever the motive, Benedict reminds us that the consciousness of God's presence, behind us, within us, in front of us, demands a change in heart, a change of attention from us. From now on we must think differently and tell a different truth.
Chittister, Pg. 62

Yes, examine my heart and mind. I have walked faithfully. I live this life in trust that God faithfully walks with me. My experience, though, is God is more faithfully walking with me than I am with Him. As I read the rule I see a path. I am to place my hope in God alone, not my great ideas. I let go of my schemes and listen for God's guidance.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 19 - A Call To Acting Differently

Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
Psalm 25:4

Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else.
Benedict's Rule 4:20-21 (Chittister, Pg. 57)

Holiness, this ancient Rule says to a culture that has made crafty packaging high art, has something to do with being who we say we are, claiming our truths, opening our hearts, giving ourselves to the other, pure and unglossed.
Chittister, Pg. 58

Here I find yet another key in this life that I have dedicated to the Lord. I am to live differently from others. I am called to live God's truth. Not to varnish my call, to remain pure. Like so much else I encounter in these readings, this is no easy task, and certainly something I do not do perfectly. It is not an easy task when I am called by the web, by the television, by the desire (even attempts) to prove myself just as good as the others around me, most especially others that have not chosen as dedicated a call as I.

It would be so easy if from the first time I "found the Lord" I no longer responded to these temptations. That is not the case. However, I do find solace here. It appears that we have been battling this for a long time. The psalmist asks to be led to God's truth. Benedict includes the reminder to act differently right in the Rule. Sister Joan Chittister reflects on how "crafty packaging" has become high art. I can take comfort from not being alone. But I cannot relax. The reminder is still here. As a Benedictine I am a part of a community that finds it important to remind ourselves regularly of all the basics. We don't grow out of our need to reach for the Lord.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 18 - What I Want Or...

Hallelujah!
Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
Psalm 149:1

You must relieve the lot of the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and bury the dead. Go to help the troubled and console the sorrowing.
Benedict's Rule 4:14-19 (Chittister, Pg 57)

The call to contemplation here is the call not simply to see Christ in the others but to treat the others as Christ.
Chittister Pg. 57

Two Thoughts:

1. Now we are getting to the core of why we have Benedict's spirituality at the heart of the Community of Hope
2. This is when it gets hard for me

I clearly understand the call to see the other as Christ. Now I have to give up my selfish desires and make room for that other in my life.

I realize that often this I do not want to do.Should I stop reading that article that I think provides insight about the others around me? Do I keep watching more television or do I go to bed so I have energy for tomorrow? Or do I stop and listen to the person that asks me a question at the end of my weekly self-help meeting? Do I greet the newcomer at church before running over for my coffee at coffee hour?

The bottom line seems to be a choice: Do I do what I want or do I do what God wants?

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 17 - Surrounded And Supported

Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, *
But we will call upon the Name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7

In the monastery, monastics are not to follow their own heart's desire, nor shall they presume to contend with the prioress or abbot defiantly, or outside the monastery.
Benedict's Rule 3:8-9 (Chittister, Pg 54)

Benedictine monasticism is life lived within the circuit of four guy wires: the gospel, the teachings of its abbots and prioresses, the experience of the community, and the Rule of Benedict itself.
Chittister, Pg 54

We are called to put our trust in God, letting go of chariots, horses, defiance, even asked to let go of our "own heart's desire." So how do we follow God? Sister Joan talks of four guy wires. On the next page (55) she rephrases these four concepts, speaking more clearly to us that are not in a monastery:

"Each of us, monastic or not, deals with the same elements in life. We are all:

1. bound to the gospel
2. under leadership of some kind
3. faced with the dictates of tradition or the cautions of experience
4. in need of a direction"

This speaks to me in my every day life. When I am pulled in different directions (tempted to sin, perhaps?) or confused about a decision, or enjoying a great day in the warmth of God's care and creation I come back around these guides that originated long before me, and, with God's grace, will continue long after I am gone.

I also see where we, as our instance of the wider Community of Hope forms and grows, can use these four guy wires. As we meet for the first time we will have many questions. Each of us will have many thoughts of how to navigate this path forward, some of us will wish to move faster than the prescribed course moves us (while others, of course, may wish to go slower...) As we continue meeting we will learn much, and as we move from a collection of individuals to an integrated community, we will build our own leadership and experience so we can reach out to others. We will add our group's experience to the tradition and experience that has come before us.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 16 - Thoughts on Decision Making

Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *
melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; *
hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Psalm 17:3,8

The community members, for their part, are to express their opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend their own views obstinately.
Benedict's Rule 3:4 (Chittister, Pg 52)

And Benedict knows that there is a spark of the divine in all of us. The function of an abbot or prioress, or leaders and spouses everywhere, is not so much to know the truth as to be able to espy it and recognize it in the other when they hear it.
Chittister, Pg 53

Shared decision making. Here we have a central part of creating community, and a way of guiding the community. As I read all of the portion of the Rule for today and all of Sister Joan's reflection I hear that I am to listen and share. I am not to make decisions rashly. If my role is the leader I must, in the end, make the decision. If I am not the leader then I must abide by the decision. I do not get "let off the hook" either way. I cannot simply say "All of you voted for it, make the best of it", nor can I say "I am agreeing only because all of you voted for it". Will this work everywhere? No. And I think mostly because there are places where everyone concerned is not willing to make decisions with these rules.

For our potential, growing, community I hope we can all think about sharing, listening, and abiding by decisions. We all have a part in creating this community. It will not happen without our all taking an active part.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 15 - A Busy Day

He delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me; *
for they were too might for me.
Psalm 18:18

Rather they should keep in mind that they have undertaken the care of souls for whom they must give an account...
...let them realize that on judgement day they will surely have to submit a reckoning to God for all their souls -- and indeed for their own as well
Benedict's Rule 2:34, 38 (Chittister Pg 47, 49)

No reflection for Jan 15th, as my work day allowed only time for my reading, not time for reflection and sharing.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 14 - Strength Beyond Puny Efforts

With my whole heart I seek you; *
let me not stray from your commandments.
Psalm 119:10

...aware that more will be expected of one to whom more has been entrusted
Benedict's Rule 2:31a (Chittister, Pg 45)

We must each strive for the ideal and we must encourage others to strive with us, not because we ourselves are not weak but because knowing our own weaknesses and admitting them we can with great confidence teach trust in the God who watches with patience our puny efforts and our foolish failures.
Chittister, Pg 47

I start today with the first three sections of Psalm 119. I find comfort and wisdom within them. I could simply post the Psalm and we would learn much. I share with the Psalmist to seek the Lord with my whole heart, to not stray from the commandments. But Sister Joan Chittister's final line reflects the reality, the puny efforts and foolish failures that go along with my great desire.

I know I can't live up to the ideal of the Psalms, but I haven't stopped trying. I know that as I step forward and live the life where I have been entrusted with much, that much is expected of me. Today as I read these readings I gain strength. On good days I gain the strength to reach beyond where I have been. On many days I gain the strength only to not fall back. On some days I do fall back, gaining only the strength to start again tomorrow.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 13 - Responsible For My Own Sins

Have pity on me, Lord, for I am weak; *
heal me, Lord, for my bones are racked.
Psalm 6:2

They should not gloss over the sins of those who err, but cut them out while they can, as soon as they sprout...
Benedict's Rule, 2:25 (Chittister, Pg 42-43)

There is no room in Benedictine spirituality, though, for bloodless relationships between people in authority and the people for whom they have responsibility.
Chittister, Pg 43-44

Who's sins am I looking at here? Mine. I have responsibility for myself first. I may be prioress or abbot, parent, or supervisor, even some combination of all of those, and be responsible for others. But...

To be responsible for others I must be responsible for myself. I cannot gloss over my sins when I err. And err I will. They sprout. They may even ooze, even out the same openings as the beauty I spoke of two days ago. While we are human, built in our Creator's image, we are only human.

For me I know I need to be in a place where I have active, warm, mutual, and robust relationships with others. Others that I allow to have authority. Join me.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.
Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 12 - The Insane Jesus Life

I lie down and go to sleep; *
I wake, again, because the Lord sustains me
Psalm 3:5

The prioress or abbot should avoid all favoritism in the monastery.
Benedict's Rule 2:16 (Chittister, Pg 40)

This is the Jesus life. What is insane in the streets is common coin here.
Sr. Joan Chittister, Pg 41

If this is the Jesus life, I am looking for some easy perfection. I want it to be easy to do the things that are "insane in the streets". Benedict is speaking about leaders, and the "insanity" of not ranking by education, money, or social status. The leaders, Benedict says, are to "show equal love to everyone and apply the same discipline to all..." Sister Joan ends her reflection with request to "Imagine a world that was run by holy listeners."

Yes, I want the "Jesus life", or at least I want Jesus in my life, and I want to be known by others as being holy. Or do I? At work do I want to be thought of as someone living the Jesus life, or do I want to be known as successful? At home do I want to put my hobbies, my recreation, my book reading aside to attend to another's needs? Do I love God enough that I am ready to sacrifice my life? I must admit, "Not Always", to say the least.

I can imagine being a holy listener, though. At least some of the time. Perhaps this is enough go keep me moving forward in the Jesus life today.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 11 - The Beauty That Oozes

Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 146:1

...proposing God's commandments to a receptive community with words, but demonstrating God's instructions to the stubborn and the dull by a living example.
Benedict's Rule 2.12 (Chittister, Pg 37)

Benedict is saying that the function of spiritual leadership is not to intimidate people into submission by fear or guilt. The function of spiritual leadership is to show in our own lives the beauty that oozes out of those who live the spiritual life to the fullest.
Chittister, Pg 39

When first looking at this portion of Benedict's Rule, I had the sense I could skip these instructions as I am not a spiritual leader, I am not a prioress or an abbot. Upon reflection I think again. I think of the community that is, hopefully, developing at St. George's, I think of my own life where I lead others at work, and where I co-lead a wonderful two-person community of being a married couple...

At home and at work it isn't fair to ask others to spend time I am not willing to spend or to do things I am not willing to do. I am to do my part, I am to lead by example. (This isn't to say I can do everything that others can do. The others I work with do things that I can't. For example, I work with experts that do things with technical equipment. I ask them to operate and care for that equipment. I make sure they have the resources, time, and training to do their work. Then I stay out of their way as much as possible.)

Our budding instance of the Community of Hope at St. George's is another place where we all will be leading, where we can all lead with both words and example. We hope to provide comfort, stability, and a listening ear where there may be pain, frustration, even loneliness. We will often lead only by example, being examples of presence, hope, peace, and love...

We do lead, may our leadership be such that beauty does ooze from us as we live our spiritual lives.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 10 - Finding The Dazzling Light In Each Of Us

Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *
try me and know my restless thoughts.
Psalm 139:22

Let the prioress and abbot always remember that at the judgment of God, not only their teaching but also the community's obedience will come under scrutiny.
2:6 (Chittister, Pg 35)

The purpose of Benedictine spirituality is to gather equally committed adults for a journey through earthen darkness to the dazzling light that already flames in each of us, but in a hidden place left to each of us to find.
Sister Joan Chittister, Pg 36)

It is true, our spiritual leaders will be held accountable for the lessons they teach, but each of us in our families, our jobs, in our school of spiritual growth will also be held accountable. We must concentrate on our journey, our growth toward the dazzling light that flames within us. Great lessons are provided, but we must be open to absorb them, we must listen. We must respond. As "equally committed adults" we must do our part. Thanks be to our God who searches us, who knows our heart, who tries us, who knows our thoughts, both restless and rested. Ultimately, if we are quiet and listen for God with the ear of our heart we can know our part, we can grow.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Unless stated otherwise quotes from St. Benedict's Rule from the translation in this same book.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 9 - Either Way

My help comes from the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2

They [the prioress or abbot] are believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery. ...Everything they teach and command should, like the leaven of divine justice, permeate the minds of the community.
Benedict's Rule 2:2,5 (Chittister, Pg 33)

"The superior of a monastery of Benedictines will be a Christ figure, simple, unassuming, immersed in God, loving of the marginal, doer of the gospel, beacon to the strong."
(Chittister, Pg 33)

We are called to be disciples of Christ in our communities. We look up to our superiors. I, and many of us reading this are not subject to the direct authority of a prioress or abbot, but many of us in church communities, have pastors, rectors, bishops, priests, elders, or spiritual directors we look to. We look to see the simple and unassuming leader immersed in God. We also hope, ourselves, to grow in our love of the marginal, to be more of a doer of the gospel, to understand we are a beacon to the strong...

But we, and our leaders and superiors are human. We make mistakes, sometimes big, public, and humiliating errors. Some of them we label "sins". Today my church, the Episcopal Church in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region has come face to face with a leader who appears to have made a very public, and in this case fatal error. (On 09-Jan-2015 Bishop Heather Elizabeth Cook was charged with manslaughter in an accident that occurred on 27-Dec-2014.) What happens when someone in a leadership position, this position we have equated with Christ, acts in such a way we all question them, their leadership, their authority? Can they be the Christ figure for us?

They must. I don't know how. Christ was perfect, we are not. While representing Christ, none of us is Christ. All of us are sinful.

And all of us must go on and meet Christ and ask forgiveness no matter what. And even harder, we must accept that forgiveness from Christ. The rest of us can grow stronger. No matter what our fellow, sinful, leader does (asking for forgiveness and being forgiven, or giving up and falling) we have an example to learn from. Either way.


Oh yes, we must also pray. Lots of prayer. A life of prayer.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I am using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 8 - Living in a Cenobitic Way

"You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you."
Psalm 118:28

First there are the cenobites, that is to say, those who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot or prioress...
Third, there are sarabaites...
1:2, 6 (Chittister, Pg 27, 29)

My thought, as I read this yet again, is how much I need a leader. While I am not a monk, I am a church member and an oblate and I have chosen to join others in communities, communities with spiritual leaders and guides. I find it all too easy for me to off on my own, to decide for myself what is holy, what is good. When I decide for myself I tend to pick the easy as holy. As I read further in Sr. Joan's reflection I find more of the rule: "Their [Sarabaites] law is what they like to do, whatever strikes their fancy. Anything they believe in and choose, they call holy; anything they dislike, they consider forbidden." (Rule 1:9)

I put myself in the structure and surroundings of our school of spiritual learning, I seek the guidance of others to hold me accountable. I am striving to live in a cenobitic way, one of those who "are seekers of the spiritual life...(to) live with others --and are not a law unto themselves (Chittister, Pg 25). As I read Sr. Joan's reflections I find depth, words, advice, in almost every sentence. I learn that "In monastic spirituality, there is no escape from life, only a chance to confront it, day after day in all its sanctifying tedium and blessed boredom and glorious agitation in the communities of which we are a part at any given moment of our lives." (Pg 27)

A prayer: "Lord Jesus: Please agitate me, help me live my life in your service."

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I am using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 7 - A School for God's Service

Therefore we intend to establish a school for God's service. ... It is bound to be narrow at the outset.
Prologue:45, 48b (Chittister, Pg 21)

Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, *
you ministers of his who do his word.
Psalm 103:21

Sr. Joan Chittister adds "The spiritual life is not something that is gotten for the wishing or assumed by affectation. The spiritual life takes discipline..." (Pg 21) So true. I find my discipline lacks some of the time. This "school" where I discern a possible new aspect of my ministry excites me exactly because of my lack of discipline, the need for the narrowness at the outset becomes obvious! And I am doing it with others! I have a community that shares frustrations AND GROWTH.

I want growth, I do not want to be stagnant, to keep from being challenged, to stay the same as I was yesterday. I need the discipline I expect to find in being part of this group, discipline to help me through the days when I am tired, when challenges hurt, when being just the same person I was yesterday or last week feels like the easier way...

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I am using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 6 - We Cannot, But With God We Can

What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Holy One to supply by the help of grace.
Prologue:41 (Chittister, Pg 19)

"Be still, then, and know that I am God"
Psalm 46:11a

I cannot do it. I forget one of the morning tasks at work. My boss still needs to remind me of the item I committed to finishing. I expect my spouse to be there after my hard day forgetting about her hard day. And then I remember I have given my life to God. Benedict's Rule and the psalm I read put it all together: My nature fails, the Holy One supplies grace. I can simply be still and know that God is with me.

Over the rest of this four month cycle we will read in the Rule and Ms. Chittister's reflections different ways of seeing and living this same truth. We are in this together, and not just us, God is with us. As are all the others that read these passages and the scriptures on a daily basis. We build a community where we can help each other, and all people, to experience the grace of the Holy One.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I am using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 5 - Of Miracle Making and Relationships

"Whoever hears these words of of mine and does them is like a wise person who built a house upon rock..."
RoB Prologue:33 (Chittister, Page 16)

In Ms. Chittister's reflections for today (Jan 5, pages 16-19) I am reminded that family is not "just a routine relationship" and work is "our exercise in miracle making". Powerful reminders.

Today I tried something different. For the first time this year I read my psalm and Benedict's Rule early in the day, before heading off to work, then waited until this evening to write my thoughts and reflections. Previously I have been waiting for a "good" time to read, reflect, and write the blog entry. Tonight I came back to the reading and am working on the blog entry.

My day worked differently too. I more reflectively included thoughts of God after the reading time as I was starting to organize more work. More than once I came back to the "miracle making" line. It reminds me that others have said that work and family can be seen as times when we co-create with God. I certainly believe God calls us to use our time to assist in making our world a better place.

This miracle working and remembrance that family (and really, most other) relationships are not routine helps counter the frustrating agreement I felt as I read this morning's psalm:

Why are the nations in an uproar? *
Why do the people mutter empty threats?
Psalm 2:1

May we remember all the creative, miracle making times we have so we are less likely to join the uproar of making empty threats (or any threats, for that matter...)

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I am using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 4 - Living In the World

These people reverence God, and do not become elated over their good deeds; they judge it is God's strength, not their own, that brings about the good in them.
RoB Prologue:29 (Chittister, Pg 14)

There is much wisdom for me in the portion of the Rule today, and in Ms. Chittister's reflection. I am not called to be a solitary ascetic desert Father or Mother, as much as I may wish to compete in this area. As a 21st century Christian and oblate I am called to live among my family and coworkers, among the church members in my parish and the oblates and community I am connected with. My mother provided an example that makes sense: When I am flying in an airplane I expect the pilot of that plane to be paying attention to flying the plane, not closing her or his eyes and praying.

I will be honest: This is hard for me. I read about St. Benedict and other saints (Benedictine and otherwise), I see fellow parishioners and coworkers, and I see accomplishment and honor. It is like reading about Jesus in the Gospels where we see a few great acts, but so little of Jesus and the disciples spending long days walking to the next town, talking one-on-one, just living each day. I forget that doing the laundry, preparing the monthly report at work, and being present are all about reverencing God, and all call for God's strength, not my own.

There is a portion of psalm 66 that seems appropriate:

Bless our God, you people; *
make the voice of his praise to be heard;

who holds our souls in life, *
and will not allow our feet to slip.
Psalm 66:7-8

I pray to remember that as I let go of my preconceived idea of what "holy" is, God will not let my feet slip.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I am using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 3 - It is too much

How wonderful is God in his holy place! *
The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people
Blessed be God!
Psalm 68:36

What is more delightful than this voice of the Holy One calling us? See how God’s love shows us the way of life?
RoB (Chittister) Jan 3/Prologue:19-20

There is simply too much to take in all at once. I could spend hours on just the pages for Jan 3 in Ms. Chittister's book. I read her reflections on the spiritual life not being a "collection of asceticism's",  or how some of us may find it easier to pray than to go into the world to "make fools out of ourselves for the Christian religion..." And that is only page 11, there are another two pages today! I stop and reflect on almost every sentence in the reading.

And the struggle doesn't stop with just the reading itself. Today I found I was questioning her division of Benedict's Rule between today and tomorrow. It is different from others.

But are these struggles the important struggles for me? I don't think so. The important struggle for me is to recognize the "both/and" of this path that I am on. I find both comfort in some of my habits and challenge to move beyond those habits. I find both confirmation that much of what I live is good and knowledge that new work is still needed.

I pray that I can hear and remember both the Psalm verse and the portion of the Rule I quoted, that I may remember that God's love shows me the way of life and gives strength and power.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I will be using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979 unless otherwise noted.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.

Jan 2 - Run Toward the Light

The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them *
and delivers them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17 (The Book of Common Prayer, 1979, The Episcopal Church)

Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God
RoB Prologue:2 (The Rule of Benedict, a Spirituality for the 21st Century, Chittister

Today I think about running toward the light. Toward, not completely in the light. Yesterday, as I thought about this commitment to reading the Rule (and reading psalms in the morning and evening) I was thinking I would read the Rule early in the morning, and since I am on vacation I would spend extra time meditating on what I read, then put together a short blog entry and be done by breakfast. It didn't happen that way.

The actual day has been great. I slept in, had breakfast with my wife, spent time at Great Falls Park where I took a "sort of annual" beginning of the year self-portrait, paid bills, and helped my son and grandson grocery shopping. Now, at the end of the afternoon I finally sat down, read the morning Psalm, the portion of St. Benedict's Rule often read on Jan 2nd and Joan Chittister's reflection.

But God is with me. And has been with me. I haven't forgotten, the light is around me even if I don't feel it. Of that I am sure.

A Note To Anyone Reading:

This entry is part of a series that is developing as I read The Rule of Benedict, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, Joan Chittister, Crossroads, 2010. Unless stated otherwise I will be using the translation St. Benedict's Rule from her book. I am offering this both to those at St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington VA, that may be reading Ms. Chittister's book and to anyone that is interested.

Comments are welcome, and encouraged, please use the blog comment feature.