Br. Mark 
Writings of Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO, a monk of Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers Georgia. Br. Mark is formerly Prior and is currently guestmaster for the Monastery, His writings relate to those he works with in his ministry, particularly the elderly and dying.
Our deepest thirst
People disappoint us and we do the same for others because we simply can’t be ‘all that’. We have a transcendental aspect to our humanity that is more often than not overlooked, buried and even denied. It is then that we switch that deep and total relationship on to finite beings who simply can’t give… Read More ›
Our inner world and prayer and trust in God
Prayer opens up many doors to our inner perception. When we seek to grow in love of God and do not just pray to get something from God, the good fruit can at times have a bitter taste to it. Yet we must experience the bitter along with the sweet on our inner journey towards… Read More ›
Care giving
I would suppose over the years as a caregiver, I have had the honor of accompanying many in the last years of their lives. Some have been easier than others to work with. They being more lovable and very fulfilling, at least on the interpersonal and emotional level, to take care of. Others (?), well… Read More ›
Love is love after all (The final days of a beloved pet)
My friend, Br. Mark, penned the following article a month ago and I saved it for this particular day, the first anniversary of the passing of my own dog, Tucker, who succumbed to kidney failure after a two year struggle. Over the past year I wondered if I was being selfish by not putting him to sleep… Read More ›
A lady really down on herself
I was talking to one of our retreatants a few months ago. She is very devout, loving and a caregiver. Yet when we talked she was really hard on herself, filled with revulsion and would not allow anything positive to be said of her. So as she was finished I asked her if she thought… Read More ›
The threads of our lives (Journaling)
Sometimes when I think of God, the image of a weaver comes into my mind. Then I imagine and infinite number of threads being brought together to make some sort of tapestry. All kinds of threads; some thick, others so thin that you can barely see them, some of the strings so strong that they… Read More ›
Freedom
If a river was free to leave its path, to be liberated from the restriction of its banks, it would become a destructive force and would eventually cease to exist. A river is a powerful force when it has direction and a place to go to. To simply do whatever we want soon gets boring… Read More ›
A lesson in powerlessness and letting go
Six weeks ago I was talking to a long time friend. He is in AA, has been for many years, and yet still struggles. Perhaps one reason I respect the 12 steps is not because of those who succeed, though it is part of it of course. No, the main reason is because of those… Read More ›
A Woman Prophet
One of the brothers asked me drive him to the International airport to pick up a monastic guest. He has never been there and does not know the city too well, so I was glad to do it. It was also the one day a month that the community helps a woman out who lives… Read More ›
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 ›