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 very 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 very 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.
“Their weakness must be taken into consideration by the Abbess.”
ReplyDeleteBenedict here reminds me of Dorothy Day’s challenge: “we love God as much as we love the one we love least . . . “. Abba, increase my love. Make it unconditional and considerate, as is your love for me, with all my weakness.