Spirituality is not a sporadic exercise. It comes in getting up every morning with the Word of God stretching our hearts to see new things as well as to see old things that are needed newly in this time and place.
- Joan Chittister, The Monastic Heart
Sometimes when I’m busy and overwhelmed, I daydream about what it might be like to be cloistered. Can you imagine? A seemingly perfect prayer regimen. Time to focus on a singular task. No distractions. A place to commune with God at any moment.
Peace.
Well…. however appealing it might look from the outside, monastic life is not perfect. I have to remind myself: there is still busyness, distractions, difficult people or work. But one of the most beautiful things about monastic life, in my opinion, is the total ordering of work, prayer, and all of life to allow for utmost connection with God’s peace and love.
It’s beautiful.
And I also have to remind myself that it’s not only possible in the cloister. I can create a prayer routine from my home. I can welcome God in the silence of my heart. I can do my work dutifully and attentively by eliminating distractions and excuses. I can strive to have grace with the people around me.
I won’t be joining a monastery; that doesn’t seem to be my calling. But I can learn wonderful lessons from our cloistered brothers and sisters. I can, by the help of God’s grace, create in myself a monastic heart.
In Christ,
Rebecca and Ope
Weekend Recommendations
On community and belief: “For good or for ill, we believe what we believe because of our particular encounters with people and human communities. All systems of belief and practice are handed down in ordinary ways by people with particular names, faces, languages, traditions, limitations and longings.” - We Remember Saints Because They’re a Lot Like Us (NYTimes, Tish Harrison Warren)
On learning to be alone peaceably, and the difference between loneliness and solitude: - Stephen Batchelor - Finding Ease in Aloneness (On Being podcast)
This month we are committing to memory Psalm One, and we will focus on a different Psalm each month this year. We hope you’ll consider joining us.
Supporting Behold
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Help us find an intern: do you know a college student or recent grad passionate about spiritual disciplines? We’re looking for an intern join our team. Send us a note at hello@beholdprayer.com
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