Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Tag: faith

When life feels cold and dark and I am naked and shivering within

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you: Psalm 56:3 Sometimes I feel fear. It is when I become strongly aware of the suffering that goes on around me. On how common it is to have sick friends, people I love who are dying and my own aging as well. It is as… Read More ›

Share

Aridity in our walk with God

“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. (Hosea 2:14) The soul is made for the ‘Living Water’, that which allows our souls to flourish and grow. Yet the desert is also a reality that dwells within each of us. A place of… Read More ›

Share

Simply talking with someone else and sharing ones faith

The greatest way we can show respect for someone is to simply listen to them and not to try to change their minds. I suppose in trying to such a thing would lead to ‘Excedrin Headache #8”, since it is impossible. Howe do I know this? From personal experience when I am communing with others…. Read More ›

Share

Beauty and fragility

Insects are a problem for us. I guess you could say we are a war with them, a war we can’t win, but can only hold them back. We have ‘people’ come in and spray around certain areas of the retreat house in order to keep insects out. Or if they come in, they do… Read More ›

Share

Dealing with self-talk

All I want is to figure things out, give me the bottom line! Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38 A small group here in the Monastery is meeting and talking about “Non-Violent-Communication”. It is a… Read More ›

Share

The meeting of a wise gentle man

I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday. As I was sitting in the office reading, a man walked in, I guess he was a little younger than me, but in his 60’s. He seemed weary and brought in with him a cup of coffee. After a while we started talking to pass the time, for the… Read More ›

Share

Some things are out of our control

There is a lot to life that is out of our control. Our aging for instances, time makes sure that we keep on moving on. One second, day, week, month, year and decade at a time; the ride does not stop until we do. It is like an apple that drops from the tree; once… Read More ›

Share

We must not count on ourselves

If we knew at what time we were to depart from this world, we would be able to select a season for pleasure and another for repentance. But God, who has promised pardon to every repentant sinner, has not promised us tomorrow. Therefore we must always dread the final day, which we can never foresee…. Read More ›

Share

A Mocking Bird’s lonely song

What is considered early in the morning will vary from person to person and place to place. Since we have our Vigil’s at 4 AM, after being here for a few years, that time seems like 6 AM. I am lucky I love the morning hours so when I sometimes wake up at 1:30 and… Read More ›

Share

Deeper needs arising

Years ago I was talking to a friend of mine. Her name was Judy F. She is now gone, she died about 10 years ago. She was a little older than me and she would come out to see me about once a month. As a person goes she was very complex with lots of… Read More ›

Share