Focal Practice as a Path, Pt. 2
Life is as near to us as the closest patch of clover and its diamond dew under our bare feet.
Focal Practice as a Path, Pt. 1
Though small in themselves, they orient us toward the focal concerns of our lives: the things that matter most and give meaning and value to all else.
POVERTY IN TIME
I had thought that poverty would mean learning to live without my daily latte. Instead, I have discovered that it means learning to live without the illusion that I can complete everything I set out to complete. But the invitation here is not simply to make peace with the unfinished to-do list, important though that is.
WORK, REST AND THE CHALLENGE OF LIVING AT HUMAN SCALE
To enter a monastery is to enter a world governed by bells. Bells call us to prayer, welcome guests to meals, initiate worship, and send us forth from times of fellowship. … Living life at human scale is an invitation that monasteries aim to offer, and that is so sadly lacking in much of our world. Even here, within the monastery enclosure, this is an invitation that takes work to accept.
THE VOW OF CELIBACY: VULNERABILITY AND HEALING
"I like to tell myself that celibacy is a one-day-at-a-time affair with God. Different days bring on different joys and challenges."
LIFE AS A RECURRING INVITATION
"For many decades my personal mantra has been, 'Curtis, this is your life, these are the terms, what is the invitation?'"
KNOW LIMITS
We all face and experience limitations in different ways. They can be temporary walls to be overcome or ultimate boundaries, narrowing and constraining the possible. They can be imposed upon us unwillingly or chosen by us as part of our discipline or vocation. In each case, though, our limitations challenge us to discover and to explore the world that they define. Although they may cloud our vision of the boundless horizon, our limitations open new opportunities for setting our sights before us.
CONFLICT: JESUS IN OUR MIDST
Life in a community can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Living at SSJE with my brothers has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. In particular, life in community has taught me the value of conflict and how it is an unavoidable yet potentially meaningful and transformative aspect of life.