Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

  • Welcome
    • Prayer Cycle
      • Introduction to the Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle
      • Day 1 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Cathedral
      • Day 2 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Scriptures
      • Day 3 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Saints
      • Day 4 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Spiritual Directors
      • Day 5 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Icon
      • Day 6 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Sacrament
      • Day 7 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Liturgy
      • Prayer Cycle Leader Resources
    • About the Abbey
    • About Christine Valters Paintner
    • About John Valters Paintner
    • About the Wisdom Council
    • Monk Manifesto
    • Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks
    • Subscribe to Our Love Notes
    • Website privacy notice
  • Books
    • Breath Prayer:
      An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
    • Sacred Time:
      Embracing an Intentional Way of Life
    • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: Poems
    • Earth, Our Original Monastery:
      Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
    • Dreaming of Stones: Poems
    • The Soul's Slow Ripening:
      12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
    • The Wisdom of the Body:
      A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women
    • Illuminating the Way:
      Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics
    • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
      Eight Practices for the Journey Within
    • Eyes of the Heart:
      Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice
    • The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom
    • Desert Mothers and Fathers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Annotated & Explained
    • Lectio Divina–The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-Centered Prayer
    • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements
    • Awakening the Creative Spirit:
      Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction
    • Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening & Awareness
  • Poetry | Art | Music
    • Music + DVD
    • Poetry by Christine Valters Paintner
    • Poetry Videos
    • Dancing Monk Icons
    • Other Art Collaborations
      • Monk in the World art series by Kristin Noelle
      • Saints & Animals art series by David Hollington
      • Sacred Time art series by Alexi Francis
      • Mary block print art series by Kreg Yingst
  • Programs
    • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color Book Club
      • God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with Teresa of Avila (Book Club – February 2021)
    • Community Online Retreats
      • Dancing with Fear in Troubled Times
      • Novena for Times of Unraveling
      • Sacred Time: Embracing an Intentional Way of Life (Spring 2021)
      • Sky, Sun, Sea, & Stone:
        Celtic Spirituality and Creative Writing
      • The Two HT’s-Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman-on Being Free
      • Writing Into Bloom
        with Christine Valters Paintner
      • Revelations: The Mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
    • Self-Study Online Spiritual Retreats
      • Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert:
        An Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
      • Dreaming of the Sea:
        A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie
      • Earth, Our Original Monastery
        A Companion Retreat to the Book (SELF-STUDY)
      • Exile and Coming Home:
        An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures
      • Eyes of the Heart:
        Photography as Contemplative Practice
        (Companion retreat to the book)
      • Honoring Saints and Ancestors:
        Online Retreat for the Season of Remembrance
      • Lectio Divina:
        The Sacred Art of Reading the World
      • A Midwinter God:
        Making a Conscious Underworld Journey (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea & Stone:
        A Creative Retreat with the Elements (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Seasons:
        A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
      • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
        Eight Practices for the Journey Within
        (a companion retreat to the book)
      • The Soul's Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seekers of the Sacred (a companion retreat to the book)
      • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire
      • Watershed Moments
        in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
      • Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
        A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule
      • The Wisdom of the Body:
        A 10-Week Online Companion Retreat to the Book
      • The Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine
    • Live Programs: Pilgrimage & Retreats
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
  • Calendar
  • Reflections
  • Contact

Monk in the World Guest Post Series

Monk in the World Guest Post: Peg Meisen

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Peg Meisen's reflection on noticing, appreciating, sharing and the value of silence.

My perception of what it means to be a monk in the world is really to be one who is noticing, appreciating, and sharing.  Being a monk in the world involves movement, and growth toward greater freedom. It’s growing into the reality of God’s presence with us. It is like participating in an art expression, a dance or a musical piece. There’s always a new “dance step,” to learn as we go along. Hospitality and care are our companions and teachers along the way. Being a monk in the world is multidimensional and interactive. Silence seems to be the vehicle that transports me to greater growth on this journey. Through a contemplative practice and centering myself, my senses are enhanced.  Somehow I become more merciful, more flexible, more actively involved in living and serving. 

Silence may have different definitions, or facets. What is it? What isn’t it? Is it the absence of noise or more than that? Many times, I have sought silence, saying, “Oh, if only I had a minute to be still….” Yes, life can be busy and noisy. At times, on my quests to carve out a “little piece of peace,” I have arranged to visit the Cenacle Sisters for a day or for a retreat.

One time a sister recommended that I sit by the pond and just watch for a while. She described a beautiful blue heron that spends its time there. Occasionally it shows itself and takes a slow, graceful glide over the pond. She went on to say that if I were patient, I might be lucky and catch a glimpse. I followed the good sister’s lead and sat. Funny thing, I am often depicted by others as patient. Ha! I didn’t feel too patient that day but aimed to try. It seemed like a very noisy experience at first. Though the sky was its bluest, the sound of a plane could be heard as it streaked some white smoky message overhead. Jays and crows cawed and crowed. Ducks quacked. I have to admit that I laughed at it all but was really kind of discouraged. Eventually, after I had let go of the searching, my tension and concerns started to sit back too.

That’s when this beautiful sight appeared.

The noise I had been hearing as I sat there, the ordinary, common and daily noise of life must have continued but seemed to recede or fall away. I only remember silence.  The heron had emerged, gliding with its huge, graceful wings over and across the pond. I don’t remember hearing a sound. Visually, nature had displayed her priceless gems and I was awe struck as the sun glistened on the water. It could have all happened in less than a minute, I can’t say. Time seemed to stop.

When life gets hectic, I go back to that time in memory, to rest, and to remember the importance of getting still and waiting for God.

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

Sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament has also been a healing experience, centering me and strengthening me, often without a way to describe it.  I just know that I am different from having sat in the quiet presence of the Eucharist. 

Nature is noisy for sure. Our lives are full of energy, sound, beautiful sound, and a give and take.  In reality, we can decide to make some changes to make our outside lives quieter. It’s the interior silence, like that of the 17th century Carmelite monk, Brother Lawrence who lived with a devotion to being aware of the presence of God in ordinary life, that is the jewel. Enjoying and, or, appreciating, the ordinary task at hand, opens a way for a personal, creative touch. It dignifies serving and brings joy. Moments, the activities and even objects or tools we use become sacramental. Hearts are heard.

As a person, in the world, I pray to lighten up and be hospitable in letting God work through me, to carry a sanctuary within that allows me to listen to others and serve as a monk in the world, with honesty and humility. I believe that when we embrace what is meant by this verse:  

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,”(Ephesians 3:20, The New International Version)

We will be more aware of the diamonds dancing on the waters of our lives and trust more fully in the one who leads the dance.


Peg Meisen is a wife, mother, and grandmother.  She enjoys working as a teacher and spiritual director.  Peg and her husband have been longtime members of a couples spiritually group.  Learning, painting, writing, sharing with family and friends, brings her joy.  She is grateful for the Abbey community and looks forward to the newness of everyday’s adventure, the call to be a monk in the world. 

 

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Leave a Comment November 18, 2020

Upcoming Programs

Dancing with Fear in Troubled Times
March 13, 2021
with Drs. Jamie Marich, Kellie Kirksey, and Christine Valters Paintner

Novena for Times of Unraveling
Becoming a Monk in the World

March 17-25, 2021
with Christine & John Valters Paintner, and Simon de Voil

Recent Reflections

  • Hildy Tales 7: An Nead by John Valters Paintner
  • Sacred Time and Slowing Down ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 6: Céim uile an domhain ~ by John Valters Paintner
  • Join us on a Desert Journey for Lent ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 5: Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin ~ by John Valters Paintner

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