Chapter 66: The porter or portress of the monastery

At the entrance to the monastery there should be a wise senior who is too mature in stability to think of wandering about and who can deal with enquiries and give whatever help is required. (From para. 1 of Ch. 66 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I glimpse the possibility of an inner emotional stability as a fruit of meditation. My emotions are a part of my humanness, and I experience their force and transience with more awareness now. I hope to befriend them, in all their peace or their drama, in all their coming or going. Compassion for my own wayward feelings may help me to be more compassionate with the difficult emotions of others.