Inefficiency and the Selfish Mama?

Last updated on: March 2, 2010 at 8:23 am By michaboyett

Since we’ve had a such an interesting discussion on hospitality over the past few days, my mind is still stuck there. This morning, thanks to my watermelon head (horray for antibiotics! it will end soon!), I’ve been awake since 4:30, reading Henri Nouwen’s book, Lifesigns. I’m really comforted by Nouwen’s description of the work done at L’Arche, a network of small homes for mentally and physically handicapped people, in which nonhandicapped assistants spend their days caring for, loving, and living... Read more

Sick Day

Last updated on: March 1, 2010 at 8:31 am By Micha Boyett Hohorst

As I write this, my throat feels like I swallowed a watermelon and I’m recovering from a night of chills and fitful sleep. Being sick is the worst. And though my son hasn’t woken up, I’m already struggling with what today will look like, how much I will give in to my deep desire to turn on the TV so I can lie down on the couch and feel sad for myself. I wonder if monks get to have sick... Read more

Let’s talk hospitality.

Last updated on: February 26, 2010 at 1:38 pm By michaboyett

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... Read more

Vigils

Last updated on: February 25, 2010 at 8:50 am By Micha Boyett Hohorst

“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... Read more

Post Mom’s Group Confession

Last updated on: February 24, 2010 at 3:39 pm By michaboyett

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... Read more

Thank you, Elizabeth Bishop.

Last updated on: February 23, 2010 at 12:17 pm By Micha Boyett Hohorst

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!)... Read more

Lent and the Donkey

Last updated on: February 22, 2010 at 4:51 pm By Micha Boyett Hohorst

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... Read more

Ash Wednesday

Last updated on: February 18, 2010 at 6:01 am By Micha Boyett Hohorst

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,... Read more

Peace and Amen

Last updated on: February 16, 2010 at 3:48 pm By Micha Boyett Hohorst

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... Read more

Poetry, Mamas

Last updated on: February 16, 2010 at 3:37 pm By Micha Boyett Hohorst

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... Read more