An old Vermont family cemetery a short walk from our property. Another place to come and die... By Mark Kutolowski “Wow – it’s so peaceful here. I just feel the stillness as soon as I arrive. It must be amazing to live here all the time – no cares, no worries, just rest and prayer and peace.” The middle-aged man sitting next to me at table concluded his thoughts, “Honestly, I’m a bit jealous that you get to live like this for so long.” The year was 2002, and I was six months into a year-long stay at Lebh Shomea House of Prayer,
This is beautiful, Mark. In the world, and working full-time, I found that when I practiced silent prayer I often had to take breaks. It was very difficult to go through the unavoidable purgation and at the same time pretend like everything was normal with me at work. I had to take breaks from it to let it work its way through me.
Obviously this is the benefit of a lay contemplative community. It isn't any less of a challenge--maybe it is more of one--but rather that the process is part of the lived rhythm of one's life. The spiral of death and resurrection becomes oddly natural. Being in nature allows us to see that as dying and rebirth as we ourselves undergo it.
This is beautiful, Mark. In the world, and working full-time, I found that when I practiced silent prayer I often had to take breaks. It was very difficult to go through the unavoidable purgation and at the same time pretend like everything was normal with me at work. I had to take breaks from it to let it work its way through me.
Obviously this is the benefit of a lay contemplative community. It isn't any less of a challenge--maybe it is more of one--but rather that the process is part of the lived rhythm of one's life. The spiral of death and resurrection becomes oddly natural. Being in nature allows us to see that as dying and rebirth as we ourselves undergo it.
A place to come to die...and fully alive.
Thank you for this post. -Jack