The thing that draws me most about monasticism is its absolute totality. The person entering such a life gives ALL.
As I've written before, a potential postulant does not stick her head inside the enclosure and leave her arms and legs dangling outside. It just won't work. She must make a choice.
How often do I look toward the "door of total commitment," feeling drawn toward it, while at the same time holding back?
As I've written before, a potential postulant does not stick her head inside the enclosure and leave her arms and legs dangling outside. It just won't work. She must make a choice.
How often do I look toward the "door of total commitment," feeling drawn toward it, while at the same time holding back?
I enter cloister of the heart through the doorway of surrender to God. A door of "yes" is the only way in.
Yet (in circumstance after circumstance) I find myself vacillating. I want a print-out of all that will be asked of me before I give my consent. I second-guess, look back, shuffle, struggle, worry, fret.
Then, timidly, I stick one toe toward that door.
…and it’s as if He suddenly, tenderly, picks me up and carries the rest of me inside. Even those flailing arms and legs.
"Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15)
"Jesus, I give You my whole heart and my whole will. They once rebelled against You, but now I dedicate them completely to you…Receive me, and make me faithful until death.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori).
"I am the Gate. Whoever enters through Me WILL BE SAFE.” (Jesus, quoted in John 10:9)
Painting: Vilhelm Hammershoi
OH! I like this one. Good reminder...since I'm the one clinging on to the door frame (or so it seems ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm the one clinging to the OTHER door frame, Patty!! I'm hoping to look further into this topic (here) as Lent gets underway :).
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