Work of our hands

July 31, 2014

This week’s reading had much to do with the importance of work.  Benedict places emphasis on the balance of the work of the mind and heart with the work of our hands.   He also impresses upon us that we all need to work.  Sara shared these words from Sr. Joan:

“Even the sick and the weak are t be given simple tasks that upbuild the house of God because, Benedict knows, no matter how frail, no matter how old, no one is useless; every on of us is given a gift to give and a task to fulfill.” [Chittester, Joan. The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages. July 31. New York: Crossroads, 2009. Print.]

She also shared the stories of William Wilberforce and of a courageous nun in a Benedictine Monastery in Indiana.  William Wilberforce was honored in the Episcopal Church’s cycle of prayer yesterday.  The work of his life was to abolish slavery and the slave trade in England.  He spent twenty years working toward that end, and it was not until he lay practically on his deathbed that the English Parliament stopped slavery in England.  This was his task to fulfill, and he went about the work of his lifetime.  His dedication and steadfastness through the many years of failure stand as a testimony to perseverance.

In her recent travels, Sarah and Don visited a Benedictine monastery in Indiana.  She brought back with her a booklet about the ministry of this place.   In this booklet was the story of one of then nun’s working as the Christian Education minister; this woman had been in a wheel chair most of her life.  Listening to the list of this woman’s work in the life of the church made me feel idle – she was so busy and productive.  She had found her gifts and was fulfilling the tasks set before; she seemed to overcome all impediments.

I am in awe of these driven and directed saints, who have listened for the voice of God in their lives and discerned their purpose.  I pray for this discernment.

Joan Chittister - Grace

In the midst of all the noise of everyday life: July in review

Early in July, Tom reminded us that Benedict’s rules serve to help us live together in community with the presumption that we are striving to live as Christ.  The instructions to the cellarer, who manages the community’s goods and provides for the material needs of each member in the community, remind us today about attitudes -- not only toward material goods -- but attitudes toward service and stewardship and work. This is an attitude of service and caring for one another.  We ended our conversation with these questions:  Am I doing the best job I can?  Am I caring for the people for  and with whom I work?  Am I being kind to people?

The following week Daniel posed these questions:  Are we paying attention to the shepherd? Do we recognize the Shepherd working in our lives?  A shepherd nudges with his crook to guide sheep in the direction he would have them go.  In the midst of the business of the world, we often miss the Good Shepherd’s directions, going our own way rather than the way Christ would have us go.  Daniel led us in a discussion about being aware and paying attention and listening for Christ in our lives.  Sara reminded us that the Rule begins with the word “Listen.”

The noise of our lives and our culture distracts us from the voice of Christ.  This week’s readings spoke to the conversation begun by Daniel: one reading focused on the silence following Compline; one, on reading at meals.  The silence is not just about quiet and holding our tongues, but stilling our minds and emptying out the world’s need, enabling us to listen and enabling our souls to be emptied and filled with the spirit of Christ.  This listening and stillness is prayer that centers us in faith and Christ. Larry connected this listening to the Benedictine practice of reading during meals, not difficult or rigorous texts, but readings to feed the soul as the food feeds the body. Larry ended our discussion with these words from Sr. Joan: 

“The point is that it isn’t so much the practice of reading at the table that is important in this chapter; it is the idea of groundedness in the spiritual life that could make us stop and think.  We’re all busy.  We’re all overscheduled.  We’re all trying to deal with people and projects that consume us.  We’re all spiritually thirsty.  And, we’re all responsible for filling the mind with rich ideas in order to leaven the soul.”