Friday, November 18, 2016

Chapter 40: The proper amount of drink to be provided


It may be that local circumstances may make it impossible to provide the amount of wine we have suggested above so that there may be much less available or even none at all. Those who live in such a locality should praise God and avoid any murmuring. Above all else I urge that there should be no murmuring in the community. (From para. 3 of Ch. 40 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Simple: Replace habits of overconsumption and complaining with praise of God.  Not easy: But the work of the mantra teaches me that I have a choice about where I place my attention.

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