We shall run the way of God's Commandments

. . . do not at once fly in dismay from the way of salvation, the beginning of which cannot but be narrow. But as we advance in the religious life and faith, we shall run the way of God’s commandments with expanded hearts and unspeakable sweetness of love; so that never departing from His guidance and persevering in the monastery in His doctrine till death, we may by patience share in the sufferings of Christ, and be found worthy to be coheirs with Him of His kingdom.St. Benedict (2011-04-30). The Rule of St. Benedict (Kindle Locations 194-197). PlanetMonk Books. Kindle Edition.

When beginning a task, the skill and knowledge before us is often daunting.  When Craig and I first married, I had only been on a sailboat once or twice, and then, only to hang on.  However, my husband has been an avid sailor since he was a boy, and this is very much a part of the very fabric of his soul.  So, over the years, I have been learning to sail.  However, I have absolutely no natural gifts or talents or intuition about mechanics or physics.  The very structure of a boat, at first, seemed like a foreign land in which a foreign language was spoken.  Craig assured me that over time I would absorb this knowledge.  Honestly, in the beginning, I had very little faith.

“Do not fly in dismay.”  As we begin again our trek through the rules, I remember the dismay – and a little cynical laughter – which accompanied our first readings.  All you have to do is . . .  These words seemed overwhelming.  The beginning always seems daunting.  However, the rules are not about doing and not doing; the rules are about being a certain kind of person.  Reading the rules over and over – three times a year Benedict requires –  reading and rereading the terms, the language, the way of thinking and being – this gets soaked up and becomes apart of you.   “You shall learn to run the way of God’s Commandments . . .”

Last year I took a sailing class to learn to sail at the helm rather than under the direction of my captain – Craig.  I was surprised to discover that I understood the illustrations and the descriptions in the text; the instructor was talking in a language I understood.  Over the years, I had absorbed the language of the boat.  I have learned to run with the wind.  I have become a sailor.