Monastic Mornings

Monastic Mornings January 12, 2017

Morning is when we awaken. We open our eyes, remember who we are, and rise to greet the day.

There are days when it takes us a little longer to wake up, and days when we remain asleep. If we choose to stay in bed with the blankets over our heads we risk missing the gifts of that day. There is light growing in the east. People and lessons are held in trust for us each day. We may not receive the love carefully prepared for us, or give the love we have prepared for others.

If we keep our eyes closed, we will not see.

Monastic mornings begin early, with light from the stars rather than the sun. We wake up and gather, in person or in spirit, to pray Vigils. O God, come to our assistance. O Lord, make haste to help us. Slowly we open our eyes and light begins to appear on our horizon.

Vigils set the tone for our days. We open our eyes in the dark and gradually awaken to the light around us, and within us.

Before breakfast, even before coffee, we begin to awaken.

There are times when rising and waking up can become too much for us to do ourselves. We have not slept, wrestling all night with unseen challenges and adversaries. We have spent the time we might have slept contending with ourselves. The monastic community surrounds us and carries us, giving us time to rest and heal.

Monastic mornings are times to appreciate, to awaken, to catch glimpses of the dawn. The light spreads, and our eyes are opened. We wake up to ourselves. Monastic morning can bring us alive.

When are our times of deepest monastic morning?

What are we awakening to this morning?

[Image by Jack Holloway]


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