First Thoughts from the Monastery

Just some of the things that first came to me:

Dere's Wimmen here!

Don't know why that surprised me but it did.  There are at least as many female guests as male.  There's a Habitat for Humanity meeting of some kind going on.  A bunch of these folks seem to be from near Easton Maryland.  All very nice folks.

I didn't realize which ones were the monks.  Yes, I had them in robes at all times in my head.  So shoot me.  The brothers dress very casually so far except at worship where they wear robes.  Average age is probably in the 60's.  Ate lunch with two of them, talked mostly about iPads and computer technology.

We were read to at lunch.  A tradition for Benedictines I seem to remember (maybe other orders too).  Much to my surprise our reading at the moment is "Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame.  Toad has just revealed his plan to go on a trip with Mole and Rat in a caravan.  It was both rather surreal and delightful to sit and eat with a view of the Hudson River and have a monk read "Wind in the Willows" to you.  It's going to be a week of wonders I think, lol.

A moment to discuss food!  Now there's a wonder for you.  Selection is home style, here's what's to eat.  Dinner last night was a vegetable lasagna,  lunch today was salmon with wilted spinach in a miso glaze, rice, seaweed and mushrooms in a soy lacquer and cucumber and long bean salad (which also had spinach in it).  The food has been very nutritious and delicious.  Breakfast is done in total silence (the Great Silence each day ends after breakfast.  8:50PM to 8:30AM).  Not speaking to others is no problem but I tend to talk with myself.  Insert your snide remark here.

Chapel has been very different that anything I'm accustomed to but wonderful.  Lots of chanting of prayers and Psalms.  There are some long silences and I promised myself to simply be in the moment and not look at my watch.  Promptly caught one of the brothers checking his!

My cell (described previously) is simple but not spartan.  Double bed, desk and chair, armchair, dresser, two simple closets, two bed stands, various lamps and an alarm clock.  And a carpeted floor.  Nicer than any of my college dorm rooms by far.  Hall baths, two per floor.  Very nice.

And the writing moves forward.

From my prayer journal

First night at Holy Cross - You've brought me to a holy community Lord.  I find it both peaceful and intimidating.  Hearing Compline sung was beautiful and transporting.  The commitment to follow you in  this way and to this degree is a little scary.  I envy their commitment but not their path.  Help me to find that commitment I need for my own path.  Amen

Peace

Sabbatical - Discipline, that dirty word

I have been working on the project even if I haven't posted much of late.  Just the way there were tons of post at the beginning I think you'll see a bunch here at the end as well.

Time to talk about the elephant in the room.  In order for any of what I've talked about so far or am preparing to talk about to work you have to actually do it.  And do it regularly.  With intention.  As a matter of routine.  That's right you have show a little discipline to make it a discipline.

The problem is that for many, maybe even most of us, the word discipline means "forcing me to do things I don't really want to do" or possibly "punishment".  Well how about these definitions:

From FreeDictionary.com

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.

2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.  

Merriam-Webster.com offers:

4 : training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character 

          6 : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

                                                   

 Interesting that one lists these concepts as the first and second definitions while the other pushes them way down the list and actually says that the use of the word in relation to "instruction" is obsolete.

If using the word discipline makes you uncomfortable then feel free to use something else.  What you can't lose is the concept that this is something that needs to be done.  It is important.  So whether it's a "practice", a "routine" or a "rule of life" (my favorite) it is something that needs become part of your life.  So the question becomes how do we go about doing that?  In a world where most of us already have too much to do how do we shoe horn one more thing in?

First I would suggest we take a look at all those things we do.  How many of them are necessary?  How many of value?  And how many are just trivial, silly time wasting events?  You're going to find that a bunch of things you really like are in that last category (at least if you're being honest).  Watching TV, playing video games, messing around on the computer or smartphone are just a few examples.  If you honestly do not have a single minute of your day spent in trivial pursuits then you're either in need of a long vacation or already disciplined enough to jump right in.  For the rest of us we need to do the inventory and then determine how things get moved around.

Notice I didn't say to eliminate anything.  It is quite possible that you'll decide to drop something when you take a good honest look at what you do but that's entirely up to you.  In fact by establishing your own Rule of Life you may discover that you are better able to enjoy all the things that you like doing.  Even the trivial, silly ones.

At the heart of our spirituality you will find the fingerprints of St Benedict of Nursia.  It was from his guidelines that the basic outline of the Book of Common Prayer is drawn.  Benedict was a lay person who founded several communities for monks in his native Italy.  As his communities grew Benedict saw the need to bring some routine to their lives to insure that things got taken care of and that time was available to get all the work of the community done.  While many of us think of monastic life as being very strict and rigid that really wasn't Benedict's goal.  In fact he says

"In drawing up its regulations we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome...Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset.  But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love"  (From the Prologue of "The Rule of St. Benedict")

 That sounds like a much more desirable discipline!  The purpose of  a Rule is to help us place our lives more firmly in a pattern that brings us into the presence of God.  When fully implemented we are in that presence not only in times of formal worship or prayer but always.  Everything we do becomes a part of our life in prayer, our life of prayer.

The great thing about The Rule of St. Benedict is that it's quite brief.  He puts 73 chapters into a mere 67 pages that I'm using as a reference.  And to be honest while reading all of it offers a good learning opportunity there are large sections of it that simply don't concern us.  The Sleep Arrangements of Monks (chap. 22) or The Qualifications of a Monastery Cellarer (chap. 31) can safely be skimmed or perhaps even skipped.

The discussion of a Rule needs much more room to breathe.  I'm trying to keep these posts to manageable length so let me end this one here.  I'll come back to Benedict and then show a possible new shoot growing his venerable root in my next post.

Peace

Sabbatical video check week 5

Another good week to report on. Quickest one yet! Looking forward to the next several weeks.

Sabbatical - Hands on Prayer ideas

Looking at some traditional ideas as starting places for a personal faith practice.  The following struck me as well:

• The calendar of saints, feasts and Holy days.  Christianity has been around for just shy of two centuries.  Along the way we've accumulated some history and tradition.  But outside of the biggies - Easter, Christmas and Epiphany I'd be willing to bet that most of us can't name too many more beyond that.  For example April 1, 2 and 3 of each year are associated with Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, James Lloyd Breck, Priest and Richard, Bishop of Chichester.  Any ideas why those three are given special recognition in our church calendar?  I know that Maurice is a theologian because an online quiz told me my theology was closest to his.  You now know everything I know about F.D. Maurice.  While everyday of the year doesn't have a feast or saint a fairish number do.  You'll find men and women, mystics and martyrs, rather a lot of clergy but some lay people too.  A study of those who have gone before might be the place to offer a very interesting way of deepening our understanding and relationship.  If you add in some special consideration for the seasons of the year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter Sunday and Easter Season, Pentecost and the season After Pentecost) I think you'd be well on your way to putting together a year of faith filled reading, thought and prayer.
• The cycles of prayer - There is an Anglican cycle of prayer which will lead through a daily prayer for every diocese in the Anglican Communion world wide.  You can download the files from the Anglican Communion website (HERE) along with several other resources.  This is a process that can offer a more extended cycle for your prayers (for example my diocese - Western New York - last came up in the cycle on December 8 2009 and doesn't roll back around till December 9 2011).  Each day in the cycle is also connected with the lectionary so there's a scripture connection for your consideration as well.  For anyone whose thoughts are for the wider world here's a way to connect with folks who share our spiritual roots around the world.  And for those of us with limited attention spans it's quite literally something new every day.  I would also note that there are often diocesan cycles of prayer (I'm actually taking a bit of flyer on that one.  I know we have one and I assume that it's a common practice.   If it isn't I'd wonder why not?  If you're not sure poke around, ask a few questions).  Again it helps remind us that we are part of a greater body.  In our diocesan cycle we pray not only for the congregations but the agencies, ministries and staff (even Youth Missioners!)

Again the purpose of my project is to try and offer many different starting points to create a personal faith practice.  Feel free to mix and match.  Maybe one of these ideas will give you a completely different idea.  That's perfectly fine with me.  At this point I'm just trying to lay the ground work for some more traditional practices that have worked for millions of people over century upon century.

Sabbatical - Hands on Prayer resources

I said I wanted to transition to more hands on stuff this week.  So here's the easy bit.  A couple years back as part of a parish wide look at personal prayer St. Luke's Jamestown produced a very useful booklet called "Lord, Teach Me To Pray".  The book is made up of 5 presentations done as a series of workshops.  They are:

• Ignatian
• Prayer Book
• Contemplative
• Lectio Divina
• Anglican Prayer Beads (Rosary)

The booklet (edited together from the presentation notes by Catherine Way) is a great basic resource and exactly the kind of thing I'm hoping to have pulled together for the final "product" of this sabbatical.  So with the permission of the parish I offer it here for anyone to use.

Lord Teach Me.pdf"

You'll find a solid, easy to read description of the method of prayer, how to get started, various options plus additional resources.  As you can see I was one of the presenters (as was my lady wife).  The methods outlined give you a nice range of options that cover a variety of styles.

Now these are all very "traditional" methods of prayer and personal practice.  Some of them have had a resurgence of interest recently but the reality is that these are practices with long histories.   I know that some folks get very nervous about some of them as well.  There is a perception in some spheres of Christianity that "meditative" prayer is an alien form (and for the really nervous you'll see it referred to as "Satanic").  This is patently wrong.  Sorry to be so blunt (actually my first couple versions of that sentence were even blunter.  Somewhat lacking in charity as well, lol) but there's no two ways around it.  Christians have been using forms of meditation for centuries.  As folks in the Anglican tradition of spirituality we are open to all the historic methods and should be willing to at least examine other methods to test if they are consistent with our belief and traditions.

So what is their place in the "21st Century"?  Same place as always.  Useful, proven tools that can help people find a deeper relationship with and understanding of the Divine.  While they may not work for everyone there's a reason why 1: they've survived until today and 2: we've seen this growth in interest in this day and time.  There's a connection to what has gone before that works for many people.  There's value still to be found in them.

Later this week I will add some additional thoughts on a couple of things.  Some thoughts on Bible Study and two other ideas you could use as a framework for prayer/contemplation.

From my Prayer Journal

It's hard not to panic when things look especially dark.  I held on as best I could and allowed myself to reach out for help.  It wasn't easy but it was easier.  Is that how it feels as I get better on our walk together?  That it just becomes a littler easier as we go?  Putting my trust in front of me.

The Lorica of St. Fursa

As I move into a new phase with my personal prayer I wanted to share this one, the Lorica of St. Fursa.  I came across it during my reading in Celtic spirituality.  What appealed to me was the images of all the senses being involved in our connection with God.  That total immersion in the relationship is what I believe we are called towards.

Not a lot is known about St. Fursa (also known as Fursey, Forseus and other similar names).  An Irish monk who lived in the early 600's he had visions of the next world and did much to spread Christianity in the British Isles especially in East Anglia.

A lorica is a protective prayer.  The best known to most people is St. Patrick's Breastplate (which you'll find at the link above as well).  They were not only used by the monks but often by knights as well. 

The Lorica of St. Fursa

The arms of God be around my shoulders,

the touch of the Holy Spirit upon my head,

the sign of Christ's cross upon my forehead,

the sound of the Holy Spirit in my ears,

the fragrance of the Holy Spirit in my nostrils,

the vision of heaven's company in my eyes,

the conversation of heaven's company on my lips,

the work of God's church in my hands,

the service of God and the neighbor in my feet,

a home for God in my heart,

and to God, the Father of all, my entire being.

                                                  the Lorica of St. Fursa