"Go forth from this place of contemplation, and bear fruit that will last."
This has been sticking to my spiritual bones. As I begin a new monastic day, I won't be lingering for hours in my place of contemplation. Even those living in a physical monastery do not do that. Work time always cycles back around; there are things that must be done. Hopefully the "vein of prayer" has been opened and I'm able to carry on a dialogue with God as I begin another day's work. But at some point I WILL be going forth. Maybe to another room to scrub a tub, maybe out to drive carpool, maybe to a job in the city.
Wherever my day takes me, I have been sent forth. I've been commissioned. Whatever my vocation or my occupation(s) may be, I am sent forth by God to bear fruit that will last.
It's really quite an opportunity. I wonder what will happen if I spend today thinking about it, letting myself grow in awareness of it, watching for ways in which I can drop a seed of good example here and a word of encouragement there? Jesus is the Vine, I am a branch. My Heavenly Father looks upon me as I interact with family and co-workers, as I answer the phone and run out to the bank and write a letter to a friend.What kind of fruit does He see?
"The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity." (Galatians 5:22-23)
"Let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name." (Hebrews 13:15)
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