One of the great monastic pioneers, St Bernard, taught his monks that they were to stop whatever they were doing when they heard the bell ringing in their monastery. The bell might ring for many reasons - it could be a call to prayer, or work, or food, or study, but they were to immediately obey its call. This, he said would stretch their hearts by taking them beyond their own agenda to God's agenda.
Author Ronald Rolheiser beautifully applies this picture to the calling of young parents, who are constantly interrupted by the insistent demands of their children. A child expressing a need, says Rolheiser, is like the bell ringing in a monastery. It takes us beyond our own agenda,to God's agenda. It follows then that a life constantly interrupted by the demands of children is capable of being a deeply contemplative life.
Henri Nouwen tells of an old priest who said to him once, "I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted; then I realised that the interruptions were my work." What are the interruptions in your day that could be re-interpreted as the ringing of the monastic bell, calling you and I to move beyond our own agenda to God's agenda?
Author Ronald Rolheiser beautifully applies this picture to the calling of young parents, who are constantly interrupted by the insistent demands of their children. A child expressing a need, says Rolheiser, is like the bell ringing in a monastery. It takes us beyond our own agenda,to God's agenda. It follows then that a life constantly interrupted by the demands of children is capable of being a deeply contemplative life.
Henri Nouwen tells of an old priest who said to him once, "I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted; then I realised that the interruptions were my work." What are the interruptions in your day that could be re-interpreted as the ringing of the monastic bell, calling you and I to move beyond our own agenda to God's agenda?