The winter has thus far been disappointingly mild...
I was hoping for more snow. This is a selfish wish, of course. But there is something both tranquil and therapeutic about cold winter nights and waking up to find the ground covered with snow.
I've been longing for the chance to slow down. There's the busy pace of work, chores, church, and the oftentimes hectic rhythm of a noisy cell block with lots of highly energized men. All of which can wear a man down. I'm sure, as well, that those who seek to enter into a monastic lifestyle want calm and tranquility just like I do. And while it may be tempting to live like this, the Lord Jesus has instead called His disciples to live in the world and not seek ways to escape from it.
For me, however, winter is a wonderful season. It can be brutally cold. Yet it also represents rest, extra time to read, reflect, and pray more. It means quieting my soul and stilling my body.
D.B.
I've been longing for the chance to slow down. There's the busy pace of work, chores, church, and the oftentimes hectic rhythm of a noisy cell block with lots of highly energized men. All of which can wear a man down. I'm sure, as well, that those who seek to enter into a monastic lifestyle want calm and tranquility just like I do. And while it may be tempting to live like this, the Lord Jesus has instead called His disciples to live in the world and not seek ways to escape from it.
For me, however, winter is a wonderful season. It can be brutally cold. Yet it also represents rest, extra time to read, reflect, and pray more. It means quieting my soul and stilling my body.
D.B.
