Saint Benedict’s Day

Sempervivum in bloom

Today is a great day. Today is a great day especially for Benedictines throughout the world.  It is the Solemnity of St. Benedict. We all have heard of Benedictine Monasteries. There are many throughout the world. This whole Benedictine movement began with a young man who, as a student in Rome, became disillusioned in the life people were living there. In order to escape this life he went to the hills outside his native village and became the roommate of a hermit he found living in a cave.  Whether the hermit wanted a roommate or not, he got one. The hermit just wanted to live a quiet life. His desire was shattered by those who came to seek Benedict’s advice and wanted to be near him so he could teach them.

The solution presented itself to Benedict in the form of monasteries. That’s an interesting word. The root is monos, meaning one or being interpreted, alone. Yet these places were established so that persons could live together. People began living together following a Rule that Benedict authored. This monastic movement moved throughout Europe and then throughout the world. 

Hosta in bloom

I bring up Benedict today not only because it is his solemnity, but because these monasteries following in his path were by and large the salvation of the world. Civilization was essentially preserved by the presence of the abbeys and priories that preserved learning through the Dark Ages, the Black Death and any other calamities happening in the world.  Libraries containing the learning of the ages, crafts, farming, medicine all continued in the monasteries no matter the confusion and frustration in the surrounding world. They were self contained worlds in themselves, worlds of prayer, peace and love of God and humankind.

Yesterday’s meditation from the works of Henri Nouwen spoke to me of today’s world. It is titled “It’s all How Your Look at It.”

“The great conversion in our life is to recognize and believe that the many unexpected events are not just disturbing interruptions in our projects, but the way in which God molds our hearts and prepares us for his return. Our great temptations are boredom and bitterness. When our good plans are interrupted by poor weather, our well-organized careers by illness or bad luck, our peace of mind by inner turmoil, our hope for peace by a new war, our desire for a stable government by a constant changing of the guards, and our desire for immortality by real death, we are tempted to give in to a paralyzing boredom or to strike back in destructive bitterness. But when we believe that patience can make our expectations grow, then fate can be converted into a vocation, wounds into a call for deeper understanding, and sadness into a birthplace of joy.”

Lovely daylily

We spend our time hoping and praying for an end to the pandemic. One wonders for what purpose.  According to those in power it needs to end so the economy will improve, i.e. so we can make more money or insure a reëlection. Our nation has become so focused on our individual wants and needs that we have a difficult time finding any sympathy for the wants and needs of others. 

This is shown by the current push to reopen the schools.  Why? Children need to be educated. That is true. But is the sacrifice (and it will be a sacrifice) of thousands of lives of those who become sick, both students and teachers worth the education or is it really that children are currently a hindrance to parents who need to go back to work so the economy can improve? Our society doesn’t seem to care how many students get wounded or killed by guns. One might think that the sacrifice of children for monetary gain isn’t any different.

This is shown by the numbers of people who refuse to wear masks when out in public. Individual rights is the battle cry of those who refuse. The lives of those who are exposed to the air these people exhale along with the corona virus in some cases is of no import when it comes to individual rights. The wearing of a mask in public is one of the only things proved to slow the spread of the virus. Yet so many refuse to listen.

Elegant color in a daylily

Society needs to look at the monasteries for an example. These men and women voluntarily choose to give up their possessions and live together for the rest of their lives.  It is for the common good that they work and study and pray. These people from all races, all manner of education, every kind of talent live together because of love. They seek nothing for themselves only for the community. They are manifestations of the love of God reflected in how they respect each other. Would that the nation and world would learn to love again.

The foregoing is a result of a preacher having no pulpit from which to preach! My blood work on Monday was good.  Sodium level rose a little. The rest of the week was free of medical personal.  I’ve been feeling fine and really am thankful for that, especially when I see the agony that some go through. I have another week coming up free of chemotherapy. 

I’ve been taking some time to walk through a few of the city’s parks. Our parks department does a beautiful job of planting and growing lovely things. Another reflection of the current “me first” attitude is the necessity of signs in the gardens reminding people that they are not to dig up and abscond with plants. 

I went to the Farmers’ Market for the first time this season.  It was a very busy place. It was a joy to see one of the vendors from whom I have purchased for many years. 

Total relaxation.

Good friends came over for an afternoon of social distancing on the deck.  It was so good to see them. There were lots of new blooms in the garden to bring joy to the heart.

All in all it was a blessed week.  Thanks for reading, for thoughts, and for prayers. I hope your week was a good one as well.