The Conversation Between Heaven and Earth by Mark Kutolowski The dawn chorus begins before I open my eyes. There are enough songs outside that it’s difficult, with my limited knowledge of bird calls, to distinguish one tune from another. Instead, it’s one layer of melody upon another, seemingly uncoordinated yet somehow harmonious and beautiful to hear. Our home, a 20-foot diameter yurt, offers ample protection from the elements, yet is permeable to the sounds of the land. It’s not so much that I’m dutifully rising today, as that I can’t sleep past the exuberant singing of the winged ones just outside our walls. I open my eyes while still lying in bed – the light of dawn has just begun. I glance at my watch – it’s 5:14 AM. I take a few long breaths, warming up my body, and then pull myself up to sit on the edge of my mat.
I just began a possibly extended stay at Benedictine Monastery. So this is a relevant post for me (thank you to Clara for pointing me to it!). I would like to do something similar to what you are describing-- a kind of lay monasticism.
I was just now, before dinner, thumbing through a copy of Our Thoughts determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica. I bring this up because I have zero idea how I could bring this into reality. I will simply pray and think positively about it. Man proposes...and God, well, we shall see what God does.
Thank you for your post and I look forward to reading more.
Thanks for this beatiful and insightful piece. It's great that you are sharing so many practical details; I somehow think some awareness of our alternative, spiritually-oriented lifestyles can be very beneficial for the public at large, who might be yearning for a change but haven't been exposed to models that are as attractive -and challenging and rich- as the one you describe here.
This is very good, thank you for writing and sharing. My community has been in conversations about developing rules of life, so I appreciate the chance to glimpse how another community is going about the work of shaping each day to receive Jesus' love. Really beautiful.
Thank you for these great questions about the structure of our days. It has been increasingly clear to me that I need more of something in this area but I don't know where/how to go about it and have always resisted rigid scheduling as a parent. The life of structured prayer you describe sounds impossibly foreign to me but it is a big idea that will work its way around in my mind for some time, I expect. I am also reading The Benedict Option that has been mentioned frequently by people I read. I wonder if this was an inspiration for you? -- because somehow, so far, the book fails to attract me to its vision -- it seems fearful and reactionary. Your descriptions of your homestead life certainly do not. (Yes, I got here from the Abbey and read lots of your previous posts too.)
My family of 7 are also struggling with your final question as we are some of those who do have the freedom and autonomy to structure our lives intentionally. We are pondering making a move to Maine or somewhere more rural. One of the biggest dilemmas revolves around our parents who live near us here on Cape Cod. They do not currently need our physical care but those years are likely to come. The culture here is not improving, however, and the future of the place looks more urban than not so for the kids' sake it seems best to transplant ourselves. And also because, like you describe, we long to live more fully in participation with the dialogue between heaven and earth and to make it a possibility for our kids. I love how you reminded us that the vast majority do not even have such choices and that there are many ways to serve faithfully in whatever sphere of life we find ourselves.
Last of all, Blessings on the upcoming birth!!! I will hold especially the mama in prayer.
Thank you! I did find you through Paul and really connected to this essay.
I have often sought out to live the structure you speak of, but it has been impossible to find it in the middle of Seattle, surrounded by wireless routers where streams of information flow on invisible highways surrounding our auras. I often wonder what would happen if I sprayed the air around with a magical paint that would reveal all of the ways energy travels and all of its forms too.
Wireless routers and magical paint aside, the stress of everyone around is felt and because it seeks release by any means it finds it by creeping into our apartment and demanding to be heard. We, human beings, are far more than connected by living in close proximity to each other in the cities. I would venture to say we are one being. And this being is certainly out of balance and ailing. My offering to this being is to write and make movies - an abstract and mental task most of the time. Your reminder to establish a direct connection to the land is really appreciated as is the breakdown of prayer time during the day. Thank you.
Here's an insightful comment and question on this piece that I received through a different medium - II'm reposting it here, and then will post my reply as well.:
-------------------
Dear Mark,
Hope you are well! I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog, which I found by reading Paul Kingsnorth's substack.
I wanted to get your insights on something I have been pondering over. When I read your "Conversations Between Heaven and Earth," particularly your great insights on the regularity of praying the Divine Office and following the Rule of St. Benedict, I was struck by the beauty of praying with regularity throughout the day with the texts of the Church.
I wonder what the relationship is between praying the Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours, and the deep power of healing (emotional and psychological) in Christ through such prayers? When one thinks of healing prayers, we may not immediately make or draw the connection to praying the Liturgy of the Hours.
Anyway, would love your feedback, or perhaps a substack post on this. Thanks again so much!
Thank you for this wonderful missive--which trenchantly called out the imbalance in my life--not so much in the material world as it is driven to get things done--many of which are altruistic and noble. I had a much needed cry and thank you for the humble example you have provided here--not so much in how I need to be balanced but moreover in simply addressing the issue in the first place--and its stark implications for the tortured world in which we live.
I just began a possibly extended stay at Benedictine Monastery. So this is a relevant post for me (thank you to Clara for pointing me to it!). I would like to do something similar to what you are describing-- a kind of lay monasticism.
I was just now, before dinner, thumbing through a copy of Our Thoughts determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica. I bring this up because I have zero idea how I could bring this into reality. I will simply pray and think positively about it. Man proposes...and God, well, we shall see what God does.
Thank you for your post and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you.
-Jack
Thanks for this beatiful and insightful piece. It's great that you are sharing so many practical details; I somehow think some awareness of our alternative, spiritually-oriented lifestyles can be very beneficial for the public at large, who might be yearning for a change but haven't been exposed to models that are as attractive -and challenging and rich- as the one you describe here.
This is very good, thank you for writing and sharing. My community has been in conversations about developing rules of life, so I appreciate the chance to glimpse how another community is going about the work of shaping each day to receive Jesus' love. Really beautiful.
Thank you for these great questions about the structure of our days. It has been increasingly clear to me that I need more of something in this area but I don't know where/how to go about it and have always resisted rigid scheduling as a parent. The life of structured prayer you describe sounds impossibly foreign to me but it is a big idea that will work its way around in my mind for some time, I expect. I am also reading The Benedict Option that has been mentioned frequently by people I read. I wonder if this was an inspiration for you? -- because somehow, so far, the book fails to attract me to its vision -- it seems fearful and reactionary. Your descriptions of your homestead life certainly do not. (Yes, I got here from the Abbey and read lots of your previous posts too.)
My family of 7 are also struggling with your final question as we are some of those who do have the freedom and autonomy to structure our lives intentionally. We are pondering making a move to Maine or somewhere more rural. One of the biggest dilemmas revolves around our parents who live near us here on Cape Cod. They do not currently need our physical care but those years are likely to come. The culture here is not improving, however, and the future of the place looks more urban than not so for the kids' sake it seems best to transplant ourselves. And also because, like you describe, we long to live more fully in participation with the dialogue between heaven and earth and to make it a possibility for our kids. I love how you reminded us that the vast majority do not even have such choices and that there are many ways to serve faithfully in whatever sphere of life we find ourselves.
Last of all, Blessings on the upcoming birth!!! I will hold especially the mama in prayer.
-Clara
Thank you! I did find you through Paul and really connected to this essay.
I have often sought out to live the structure you speak of, but it has been impossible to find it in the middle of Seattle, surrounded by wireless routers where streams of information flow on invisible highways surrounding our auras. I often wonder what would happen if I sprayed the air around with a magical paint that would reveal all of the ways energy travels and all of its forms too.
Wireless routers and magical paint aside, the stress of everyone around is felt and because it seeks release by any means it finds it by creeping into our apartment and demanding to be heard. We, human beings, are far more than connected by living in close proximity to each other in the cities. I would venture to say we are one being. And this being is certainly out of balance and ailing. My offering to this being is to write and make movies - an abstract and mental task most of the time. Your reminder to establish a direct connection to the land is really appreciated as is the breakdown of prayer time during the day. Thank you.
I look forward to more essays!
Here's an insightful comment and question on this piece that I received through a different medium - II'm reposting it here, and then will post my reply as well.:
-------------------
Dear Mark,
Hope you are well! I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog, which I found by reading Paul Kingsnorth's substack.
I wanted to get your insights on something I have been pondering over. When I read your "Conversations Between Heaven and Earth," particularly your great insights on the regularity of praying the Divine Office and following the Rule of St. Benedict, I was struck by the beauty of praying with regularity throughout the day with the texts of the Church.
I wonder what the relationship is between praying the Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours, and the deep power of healing (emotional and psychological) in Christ through such prayers? When one thinks of healing prayers, we may not immediately make or draw the connection to praying the Liturgy of the Hours.
Anyway, would love your feedback, or perhaps a substack post on this. Thanks again so much!
Pax,
Brian Jones
Dear Mark--
Thank you for this wonderful missive--which trenchantly called out the imbalance in my life--not so much in the material world as it is driven to get things done--many of which are altruistic and noble. I had a much needed cry and thank you for the humble example you have provided here--not so much in how I need to be balanced but moreover in simply addressing the issue in the first place--and its stark implications for the tortured world in which we live.
Thank you my friend and brother in Christ.
george
Maybe the way to begin to right the balance is to start small, be persistent but with the the spiritually always being made the priority day-to-day.