Faith & Life Inspirational Message

From time to time, I return to something I have read years before.   I guess that is one good argument for a library!   In our technological culture I am sure there is less book buying than I did.   That is not a bad thing.   But I still do like to have a book to hold in my hand, to underline and place back on a shelf in the hope that some day in the future, I will again pull it off the shelf and re-read parts of it.   I did that just yesterday.   I am working on some guest lectures for the near future.   It is a topic that I have given some thought to, but have never actually lectured or spoken publically about this theme.   This is an odd place---a place where I have been many times.   The topic given to me to address is one that I am quite happy to do.   I have many, many thoughts, ideas, and half-baked suppositions running through my head.   On one hand, it feels like I know quite a bit and could stand up right now and speak ...

The Rule of St. Benedict is a classic spiritual text.   It was written by the founder of the Benedictine monastic tradition, Benedict.   He was an Italian who lived in the late fifth and early sixth century.   The Rule is usually dated somewhere around 529 CE.   The era of Benedict was a chaotic time in what is modern day Italy.   The glory of the Roman Empire was long over.   The identifiable nations of modern Europe were far from being formed and developed.   It was the period known as the early Middle Ages.   When I was in my early years of education, this period was known as the Dark Ages.   Christianity was now part of the fabric of the land.   But Christianity had lost some of its original spirit and fervor when it became so much a part of the social culture.   Since it was no longer illegal to be a Christian, it was easy---some would argue, too easy---to be Christian.   People like Benedict wanted more.   They w...

If you have some acquaintance with Thomas Merton, famous 20 th century monk, and his writings, you might recognize the title of this inspirational piece to be a play on a title of one of his most famous books, New Seeds of Contemplation .   That book might be my favorite from Merton’s extensive writings.   It was originally published in 1961, some seven years before Merton tragically died in his mid-50s.   What many people---even those who might know some things about Merton---do not know is this book actually was a reworking of a previous book.   Merton’s first book was simple called, Seeds of Contemplation.             I come back to this book by an interesting happenstance.   A friend asked me if I had a copy of Merton’s book.   Apparently she is in a book club or some group that has chosen to use it.   Since she knows I like Merton, she figured I would have it.   Indeed, I do have it; ...

Sometimes I wonder if I would make it as a monk!   Actually I don’t really wonder, because I am fairly sure I would blow it.   There is so much about being a monk that I find attractive.   But I fear that I idealize what being a monk means.   And that is funny, since I have been to any number of monasteries and convents and actually know quite a few monks and nuns.                If I am honest, what really attracts me is not being a monk, but it is the way of life that monks and nuns undertake.   That attraction is deepened by the fact that a group of them undertake that life together in community.   And they do that life together with such intentionality.   I am sure that intentionality is a big piece of the attraction for me and it is probably why I know I would blow it!   That is because intentionality has to be married to discipline to be effective.     ...

Recently I spoke to a group of people who are interested in Thomas Merton, the late 20 th century Trappist monk.   I have referenced Merton a number of times, so it is obvious that I like to read his writings.   As noted before, Merton lived in a monastery, Gethsemani, in the rolling hills of Kentucky.   When I teach an upper level seminar, it is usually on Merton’s spirituality.   Although Merton died tragically in 1968, interest in him and his spirituality continues in remarkable ways.   It is always easy to speak to a group that is inherently interested in the topic you address.   They give you the benefit of the doubt.   Typically, they assume you were much better than you probably were!   But that’s ok; I would rather be told good things than bad things!   Most people would, I assume.   So when the evening was finished, the Catholic nun who had invited me and had served as the host for the event handed me a little bag. ...

Recently I spent some time with a group of students in the process of discussing various careers.   Part of what was at stake was helping them think about this before they graduate.   Too often a college student thinks that a particular major leads to a special job.   Sometimes this is true.   But more often than not, there is no direct corollary between our major in college and the careers we wind up pursuing.             I am certainly not against a student choosing a major in college.   As a matter of fact, most colleges require that major to graduate.   What I do want to question is the assumption that certain majors lead to certain careers.   It is more involved than that.   And perhaps there are times when luck has a role to play.   What did happen in the discussion provoked me to start thinking about the whole phenomenon.          ...