Reflections

by The Rev. Jack Rose OSBCn Photo: Josha Journal of Science, Humanity and Arts Traditional Benedictine spirituality, and Christian monasticism in general, are rooted in the rule of St. Benedict. The “Rule” has been followed, interpreted and examined by many for almost 1500 years, yet it still exists and thrives. This does not mean it cannot be influenced by the culture in which it resides in present time. The reflections on the influences which follow are the musings of this one Benedictine...

The human world is driven by story. We have the unique ability to enter other people’s lives through word and image. In doing so, we condense the vastness of a life into highlights, and those highlights have a way of gripping our hearts. This is as true of the story of Jesus of Nazareth as it is for each of us.

Despite my efforts in positive thinking, I still spend a lot of time steering myself out of shame spirals over the mistakes I've made and the flaws I can't seem to shake...

To the stars, we are no more than an asteroid striking Earth: a momentous force of nature playing itself out. Life will shift, adapt, and go on without us.

But we are not indifferent to the pain of Earth. We grieve because we are Earth, made of dust and breath, spirit and soil.

The full body sensation of an emotional trigger requires the Welcome Practice writ large, extended in real time to the real world. Sitting in a board meeting, I can usually do the mental work to attend to what’s being said. I can usually do the wisdom work to let go of my preconceived ideas and consider things non-anxiously. But holy hell, to be aware when bodily sensations are hijacking me? That’s hard work.