Conversation with Robert Benson

Friends,

I met with Robert Benson last week, author of several books including the brown daily prayer guide many of us are using. I was in the midst of reading and praying over the Rules of Life many of you have submitted and it was helpful to talk over the purpose of living by a Rule with this wise and learned man.

I confided that I’d returned most of your first Rules back to you, asking you to be more specific.

You aspired to wonderful attributes: to be more loving; to be more patient; to be more trusting, etc. But a Rule of Life is one of the practical tools that help us to grow into the fruit of God’s spirit.

Benson reminded me that when Brother Lawrence wrote about knowing the intimacy of God amongst the pots and pans of the monastery kitchen, he had been praying seven times a day and taking the Holy Sacrament daily for 45 years! For us to presume that we can know such intimacy in our day-to-day lives without such faithful discipline shows a lack of humility and wisdom.

The Rule of Life is an ancient tool used by disciples for centuries. It needs to be practical, measurable, and concrete. What will it look like for you to “be more faithful?” Is God inviting you into a regular time of prayer and reading the Word each day? If so, when and where will that happen? What resources will you use?

If you seek to “be more hospitable,” will you be inviting people into your home once a week for a meal? Will you be changing your driving habits? Will you learn the names and stories of the cashiers at Kroger? The more specific you can be, the more likely it will actually happen.

Benson completely understood our quest for being a “contemplative, monastic presence” in our community. How can we incorporate the daily discipline of praying the hours into our homes, our churches, our workplaces? His goal is “to be a monk hidden in the world.” In other words, what we seek to do will not make the newspapers or the evening news. There will be no shingle hung over the doorway or billboards announcing our prayer meeting schedule. Yet if we are faithful to pray and serve our community in quiet humility, God will reveal himself among us in unexpected ways.

I am more excited about the journey than ever before! And I am grateful that you are a companion on the way.

Traveling mercies,

Susanne