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Lessons from the Monastery

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It was better than a fishing trip together–and that is saying something.
My ten-year-old boy, Zeb, and I spent several days this week at the Monastery of the Ascension retreat house–a true Idaho treasure.

Our primary take-aways:

1. Kitchen work was accomplished quickly and efficiently. The monks go about their chores without complaining and without arguing. Lesson: When everyone pitches in and does their part, the work is not burdensome.

2. Rush and hurry come from being driven…peace comes from being called. Lesson: Slow down, pay attention to your call, and turn your back on the voices that demand your immediate attention. Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will work out just fine.

3. Life at the monastery revolves around set times for prayer. Lesson: Don’t try to squeeze time for prayer into your life; schedule your life around prayer. Nothing is more valuable and more powerful than prayer and meditation.

The last two lessons, especially, I hope never to forget. Zeb and I ordered a copy of Christian Prayer : The Liturgy of the Hours and have set up our own plan for joining in prayer with the Church.

At work (where I am called–not where I am driven), I have access to the Universalis site, where I can keep up with the prayer cycle on breaks. The attitude is crucial, it seems to me: I am not a worker finding time for prayer–but a man of prayer who also works.

Nothing Zeb and I have ever done–not even our fishing trip to Oregon two springs ago–has helped more to tighten our bond and open up dialogue between us than the trip to the monastery. We both look forward to a return trip soon.

How to locate a monastery or retreat center

Would you like to find a place to get closer to your children–or your spouse? Try a monastery. This link can help you find one: Retreat Finder.

May His love bless and keep you and yours on the journey.

Filed Under: Reflections on Life

Paula Deen comes clean…

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In the incredible-but-true category comes news that Paula Deen–queen of the high-sugar, high-fat diet–was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years ago, but has kept the news under wraps until now.

(Apparently, she needed to first redirect her business venture so she could make money from the disease before letting her followers know that the advice she has been dishing out may just kill them.)

Interviewed on the Today Show recently, Deen says “I’m going to be there for you.” She forgot to add, “for a price.”

Forgive my vindictiveness here, if you will. With diabetes growing at epidemic proportions, it is difficult for me to smile at Deen’s over-played southern charm and chalk this one up to “ain’t she cute.”

With her new gig as spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company that supplies her diabetes medication, it may be that Anthony Bourdain was correct in his assessment of Deen as someone who “revels in her unholy connections with evil corporations” and is “proud of the fact that her food is (bleep) bad for you.”

There are times when the Occupy Wall Street slogans make sense to me. This is definitely one of those times.

Don’t worry. Keep shopping and cooking with Paula.

Filed Under: Very Interesting Tagged With: , ,

Tell it like it is (not)

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In the “Ya gotta love it” category today is this CBS News report on viral video gurus–The Gregory Brothers (and a wife/sister-in-law).

Big question from the reporter: Isn’t this mashup stuff belittling the original speakers?

Artists at heart, the Gregory Brother spokesman replies with compassion and insight.

What’s your take on this new way to turn serious matters into spoofs and commentaries?

Filed Under: Gotta Love It

Resolutions from Scripture

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The New Year brings new resolutions–a look back at what has been, and a look ahead to our dreams for what could be. Over Christmas this year, I resolved (along with millions of others) to make some serious changes in my diet…to lose weight and shape up physically.

Reading 1 Timothy 4 yesterday, though, I was reminded of reality:

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle,[d] for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers (NLT).

Looking ahead to my Dream Into It roadmap for the year, the diet disappeared–replaced by immersing myself in the Word and learning more about prayer and meditation. Yes, I want to cut back on calories, exercise more, and eat sensibly…but spiritual training is “much better.”

Along that line, here is today’s reading (via Laridian) from Daily Light on the Daily Path:

Sing to the LORD a new song.

Sing aloud to God our strength: make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.—He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee wherever thou goest.—The joy of the LORD is your strength.—Paul…thanked God, and took courage.

Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in revellings and drunkenness, not in immorality and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the lusts of flesh.

Isa 42:10, Ps 81:1-2 & 40:3, Jos 1:9, Ne 8:10, Ac 28:15, Ro 13:11-14

May the Lord bless and keep you. May this be the best new year ever for you and your family. May His Spirit draw you near to the One who gives Life, to the one who is Love, to the One who has all Wisdom and Power.

Filed Under: Gotta Love It, Scripture

Jesus Camp: two kinds of people

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It debuted in 2006 and was nominated for an Academy Award the following year. I saw it last night: Jesus Camp.

Some say the film proves Christians are lunatics (e.g. Becky Fischer telling children to repent), or hypocrites (Ted Haggard speaking out against homosexual behavior, then getting busted for practicing it), and most assuredly right-wing propagandists (Mike Papantonio throughout the movie, where staged scenes of him as a radio announcer portray him as engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the film).

Some say Jesus Camp is a powerful witness to the power of God at work in young people–and that Becky Fischer is spot on in her admonitions.

If you’ve seen the movie, what do you say?

Magnolia Pictures proclaimed“”One of the great strengths of the film is that it doesn’t come with any prepackaged point of view…”.

I’m not buying that. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reflections on Life Tagged With: , , , ,
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