Chapter 48: Daily manual labor (paragraphs 3-5)
As a special provision during these days of Lent each member of the community is to be given a book from the library to read thoroughly each day in a regular and conscientious way. (From para. 4 of Ch. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
I have to acknowledge that, with all of my personal independence at this stage of my life, I am often distracted, and with no one else to blame for my "semi-conscientious" ways. I say that as if I think that after all these years of meditation I would be a bit more focussed! Maybe I am, or maybe I'm better at recognizing my distraction. Maybe I 'm better at accepting distraction as part of the human condition. Maybe I'm kinder with myself about it.
I have to acknowledge that, with all of my personal independence at this stage of my life, I am often distracted, and with no one else to blame for my "semi-conscientious" ways. I say that as if I think that after all these years of meditation I would be a bit more focussed! Maybe I am, or maybe I'm better at recognizing my distraction. Maybe I 'm better at accepting distraction as part of the human condition. Maybe I'm kinder with myself about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment