I love history and have often passed through studies around the monks of old, of several religions. They are an interesting lot! I decided that monkism needed a modern definition so I could be one, too.
Here is the old definition: Usually a member of a religious community living under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Here is a new definition for the Modern Monk: A member of the family of God who decides to live in the world, yet under a different pretext and premise for life:
- To engage in poverty that is non-indulgent in goods and wealth that interfere, cloud or block the full presence of God, yet accessing the "good" goods in order to join in the joy of God's creation and God's work.
- To rest in a definition of sexuality as God designed it in order to enhance our goodness and as a way to enter the good of God.
- To respond in obedience to the love of God, carrying out love-actions through compassion, inclusion of all people, and justice-seeking.
All of these exclude me from the world's way of thinking, its culture, but doesn't preclude me from the world's needs and issues and my proper place in it.
Do you want to be a modern monk?
No comments:
Post a Comment