Be Still and Know
Lately I've been distracted by deafening noise. Not literal, actual sound but clutter in my spirit and living that minimizes my ability to hear the signal of life's path.
Back in August, my adventurer mother and I spent a weekend at The Monastery of the Holy Spirit out in Conyers, GA literally communing with the monks in silence. Well, not complete and total silence. We talked in our room at night and during the seminar classes we attending on writing as a form of prayer. But we ate in silence. Walked the grounds in silence.
The first day, a Friday, it was all quite weird and uncomfortable. I was consumed with marveling at the monks as if their lifestyle was so odd and outside the bounds of normal. I was twitching in the silence not really knowing how to experience stillness. But, by Saturday something was beginning to transform. The noise of my mind was quieting and the signal of my path for that present moment grew louder. By Sunday, I didn't want to leave because I was enlivened and awakened in a profound way that I knew I would constantly long for. I was listening.
I observed a few things in my time with the monks. First, the monks are not odd. They are in fact regular folks who get attitudes, express sarcasm, and get frustrated. The three Brothers with whom we spent the most time with were Brother Mark, Brother James and Brother Elias. All three very different personalities but sharing a common commitment to seeking God, ministering through their writing even though they write for themselves and not others, and a common third eye allowing them to see through circumstances and people. Each touched and inspired me in a different way. Brother Mark helped me understand that I need to write to get it out and sometimes I need to share that writing. Brother James helped me remember that my innate curiosity can be translated to guidance with written language. And Brother Elias, reminded of the beauty of language. They all taught me that writing is a form of listening. Sadly, Brother James passed away in September and a piece of this story left with him.
Still the lifestyle of the monks first seemed as a spectacle of something to ooh and aah at. But in reality, it's not. If you think about it, it's the quintessential Live, Work, Play Lifestyle. The monks live work and play simply. So, instead of a spectacle it's actually what many of us seek. An opportunity to live and connect with a community where we are listening more than we are not.
Whatever may be your tool to listen to yourself, sort through what you need to learn from others and to listen to God, sit and roll in it. One of mine is writing. Sometimes on this blog, sometimes privately.
As I negotiate my rhythm of contribution in the new COVID-19 world, I share this that had been in my blog arsenal waiting for moths but the time is now. As I seek to connect with all of my friends, family and readers in this bi-directional way.
Look for more content.