One of my oldest daughters is presently studying theology. She has just completed a history paper about the desert fathers or monks of old. In every time there have been people who pull away from the world to draw close to God and to empty themselves of all distractions to be more fully His vessels. We read about those hermits who draw away to caves in the desert or those even today who live apart in communities of prayer and quiet. The purpose is to then be able to go out into the world to more effectively care for others and to support others in hidden but powerful prayer. I often read of one woman of old who was an anchorite, living in one room all her life. People flocked to her window to receive her love and counsel and even today her words are read and give sustenance and faith to others.
We can learn from these people who have drawn apart from the world for a time to be vessels of light and open emptiness for God. I think we were given the Sabbath day as a gift to rest and declutter and refill. At universities professors are encouraged to take one year off out of every seven to step back and refill after all the years of giving out. We all know the healing that can come in times of re creation and rest.
Those who have walked through the clutter of my home know that I am not someone who finds it easy to declutter by myself. One of my sons has a gift of helping me to empty and restore my home with me so that there is room for us all to move and enjoy the space together.
I have set time apart this year to have someone help me declutter my heart. In some ways it has felt that for an hour a week I go to a lovely little cell to help open up my heart and life so that I have room to breathe and move. Like the monks of old, it has involved my body, mind and spirit together. It has not always been easy and has involved pain and struggle. Throughout my days I have made room for the monk's cell in my life. I have consciously retreated there often in the midst of my outwardly full life. It has not always been full of stillness and light and love, but as gradually I have had help to declutter, I am feeling more light and spacious and more deeply in love with God. We are wired to be people in relationship with one another and with God. In that relationship I have needed someone to help me untangle some of the knots in my cluttered heart. I am thankful for the monk's cell of my heart and soul and body in the midst of life these days.
I encourage us all to take time to be in the stillness of our souls. Get help with the decluttering if you need it. Today a friend of mine is moving to a lovely and more spacious home of light and wide open view. May we consciously be grounded in these body homes of ours and open up the light and wide open view within our hearts. The anchorite, Julian of Norwich, sings her refrain. All will be well. And all manner of things will be well. Rest in the loving womb of our Mother God. God is good and draws us in the cover and refuge of his feathers, sheltering us under His wings in rest. (Psalm 91:4 and Matthew 23:37)
No comments:
Post a Comment