Falling Down and Getting Up

Am I the only one who is tempted to believe, or pretend, that 'Real Benedictines' don't fall in their attempts to create a prayerful rhythm of life?

Recently I heard a vowed Benedictine speak at a conference.  She had more than 50 years of experience living in Benedictine community. You know the kind of person I'm talking about. She radiates hospitality, calm, listening, prayer, and contentment. Yet she stated openly, that in following the rule, she just "falls down and gets back up, and starts again."

Hearing her say this really helped me.  Now I'm less discouraged when I stumble over my own efforts to develop a new practice, and find myself flat on my face. 

Yet, while I'm lying on the ground, trying to figure out what happened, and  how I can get up and begin again, I am still tempted to believe that I am the only one tripping over a new practice.... or a principle, or a value....

Perhaps that is one reason that Benedict tells us to live in community.  In those times when I am struggling not to live in a state of  'continual rushing,' it helps me to hear that someone else has struggled too.  And they found some insights to make it a manageable struggle.

In  community, we can appreciate and celebrate our successes, and our insights about the  Benedictine life.  And we can tell each other the truth when we're not so sure, or when we fall flat on our faces.  As for the getting back up part?...  In community we give each other a 'hand-up'.   Sometimes a subtle new perspective on God's presence in our lives, can change everything.

I had another one of those subtle, yet life changing moments this weekend.  

Thanks to two sentences from an Oblate friend of mine.   

I was reminded that, "I am not the shepherd."  "I am the sheep." 

It is a simple, seemingly obvious observation about the Gospel reading.  

Yet, that conscious shift in perspective makes all the difference. 

So today I ask you, "What is  your latest awareness of Benedictine insight?"

Or "What haven't you figured out yet?"  

"Who provides community support for you in this?" 

"Where do you find your community?"

 

Blessings,

Deanne