Friends, I know you’re out there. At least, I hope you’re out there. I was thinking today might be a good chance for us to get to know each other a bit since we’re just starting out together. Also, I’m really interested in your opinion. Hospitality has been a word on my mind a lot lately. As I’m reading up on the Benedictines, I’m learning that the most obvious distinction between them and other monastic orders, is their emphasis on hospitality as a way of life. Benedict is clear … [Read more...]
Vigils
February 25, 2010 By 8 Comments
"I will watch for you before dawn, that I may see your strength, O Lord." This is among today's prayers in The Benedictine Handbook, a prayer specifically for the Lenten season. And a prayer that's very "Benedictine," since the monks are always watching for God before dawn. Benedict set down his Rule for the monastic order in the 6th century, he called for a prayer time, ahhh, you know, halfway through their night of sleep (midnight, to be exact...the 6th century occurred before any studies on … [Read more...]
Post Mom’s Group Confession
February 24, 2010 By 1 Comment
I'm usually annoyed by people who confess their "sin of pride." I know that's a terrible thing to say, but I have rarely encountered what I felt was an earnest confession from someone dealing with pride. Maybe it's because I've been around angst-ridden college students for the past decade in a lot of large group Bible studies. So it seems to me that pride is the sin you admit to "struggling with" when you have to share your sins with a group. Here's why: You sound like you're doing so well at … [Read more...]
Thank you, Elizabeth Bishop.
February 23, 2010 By 4 Comments
So, I've been memorizing Elizabeth Bishop's Sonnet. And I hope that there's possibly someone out there in the virtual world who's memorizing it with me. (I salute you, fellow memorizer!) I've been surprised how it really doesn't hurt that bad to stick words in your brain. It's been a long time since I purposefully set words down in an order in my mind and it may be the first time I've done it when it wasn't a competition (Bible Drill!) or worthy of a sticker (Sunday School) or simply, a … [Read more...]
Lent and the Donkey
February 22, 2010 By 1 Comment
I'm an old lady about my dark chocolate. I eat the same kind every night at the same time. My husband has tried in the past few years to give me special dark chocolate treats, stopping by the chocolate boutique for a few three dollar pieces as a romantic surprise, in search of the most holy of the chocolate tastes. And every one of those chocolates I have savored, I promise. But, I'm being honest here, I can't get over Trader Joe's Organic Super Dark chocolate bars (the purple wrapper!). … [Read more...]
Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Keep the reality of death always before your eyes… -The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4 I love Ash Wednesday, mostly because I love the symbolic. On this night, a pastor wipes my forehead in the mark of the cross, and in that physical touch, that dirt spread, I can, at once, feel the depth my own ruin and still believe that I have been pulled out. In the midst of the ashes reminding me that I am from dust, and to dust I will return, I can, implausibly, believe that I have been reclaimed, … [Read more...]
Peace and Amen
February 16, 2010 By 3 Comments
It’s not a new thing that kids like to say “Amen.” Churched babies since the origin of the Church have probably been yelling “Amen!” excitedly whenever their families sat down to eat. It’s a word that feels good on the tongue, which is really all that matters for the 1 ½ year old who is all about the business of ordering sounds into meaning. So, I’m not surprised that our sweet son yells “Amen!” whenever he sees some steaming tomato soup or roasted chicken or bean burritos … [Read more...]
Poetry, Mamas
February 16, 2010 By 2 Comments
It was poetry that won me over to words before I even knew a person could be won over. When I read John Keats in high school, I secretly marked the page of “Ode On a Grecian Urn” in my book while every one around me complained: “This sucks!” and I nodded my head in agreement. The truth is, when I got home, I read it over and over, lying tummy down on my bed—the words on my tongue were honey. If my high school love for poetry was in secret, in college it became my special quirk. (Not … [Read more...]
Coming Back
February 16, 2010 By 8 Comments
I am far from your image of the monastic life: the serenity, the wisdom, the walking slowly with my hands in prayer position. Instead of enrobing myself in the monastic tunic for morning prayer at 6 am, I’m usually stumbling around with a big blanket covered in pink and neon blue dancing bears, waiting for my espresso to steam on the stove. Instead of speaking tender blessings, I’m offering hugs, planning ahead for snack time, saying, “We don’t throw things that aren’t balls,” and … [Read more...]
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