I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Bianca Esquivel’s reflection on prayer and work. “Prayer is work and work can become prayer.” ~  St. Benedict When I was a child, I would observe my mother in the act of various homemaking duties. Whether washing dishes, cooking, sweeping, or driving my brother and me to school, she always seemed to be at peace. She would be in silence and would be so focused on each task. In my naivete, and because we were always laughing and

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Frank Faine’s reflection God’s invitations. There she sat in a bright pink flowered dress, with a beige knit hat, thinning white hair underneath.  Pulling over a chair beside her in the day room of her assisted living facility, I spotted the vacant smile of many of the Alzheimer’s patients I spend my days visiting as a hospice chaplain. Making direct eye contact I introduced myself to Gertie in simple words to tell her who I was and

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Carmen Brown’s reflection on welcoming the Inner Critic. Christine Valters Paintner’s reflections and writings both challenge and soothe me like no other. This emotional juxtaposition often compels me to take the painful first step on a contemplative pilgrimage into self-discovery and love.  After reading Paintner’s reflection about welcoming all parts of ourselves as sacred, I realized that I had not been especially hospitable to my Inner Critic. I wondered if it was even possible for this tormenting,

We welcome you to submit your reflection for possible publication in our Monk in the World guest post series. It is a gift to read how ordinary people are living lives of depth and meaning in the midst of the challenges of real life. There are so many talented writers and artists in this Abbey community, so this is a chance to share your perspective. The link to the reflection will be included in our weekly newsletter which goes out to thousands of subscribers. Please follow these instructions carefully: Please click this link to read a selection of the posts and get a feel for the

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Michele Chung’s reflection, “Always We Begin Again.” I first learned about this phrase “begin again” right here on Abbey of the Arts. It is the best piece of wisdom for a recovering perfectionist like me. The idea to “begin again” gave me permission to stop the incessant self-criticism and this obsession to dwell on my latest “failed” attempts. It reminded me to focus on moving forward in my journey. Growth is often a dance that takes three

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Amanda K. Berg’s reflection Surrender and Gratitude. “Surrender and Gratitude”  – St. Therese Lisieux As the wheels of the plane touched ground in Los Angeles, that place in the deepest part of my gut awakened.  You know that place too. It is the place that comes alive when you experience a sense of loss, like losing a loved one or ending a relationship. It comes alive when you realize that you are lost, like a child in the

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Johanneke Strydom’s reflection “Wasting Time. . .” I have this fear of wasting time…  Not to do something worthwhile.  Not to be able to show something for my time spent.  Not to produce…I measure the success of my day in the things done to make the world a better place.  Things produced…  Beauty created. And the hours in between as wasted.  Wasted with things like cooking and washing and reading and relaxing.  The mundane.  Nothing to show.  What