And now the continuing stories of your favorite hero, Kevin D. Hendricks, kindergarten volunteer. Today number recognition was left behind and new ground was forged in rhyming words, letter sounds, and how not to listen to the teacher. Today demanded patience, energy, and quick thinking. Needless to say, when I finally returned home I took two aspirin and crashed on the couch, refusing to move for half an hour. I now have a new found respect for teachers that somehow manage to do this every day. Are they really dedicated people (a.k.a. crazy), or just well paid?
“If I do not acquire ideals in my youth, when will I? Not in my old age.” (from Maimonides, as quoted in The Rule of St. Benedict: Insights of the Ages by Joan Chittister, pg 164)
“Money often costs too much.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson, as quoted in The Rule of St. Benedict: Insights of the Ages by Joan Chittister, pg 150)
I’ve learned a few things today. First of all, I learned that monks, monasteries and that whole realm of Christianity that we kind of tuck away in the corner–they just might be on to something. Often times we as Protestants (I’m speaking for myself here, so don’t feel that title has to apply to all of you) look down on the monastic fathers and that whole tradition as a bunch of routines that aren’t heart felt. You say a prayer, you read a psalm. What’s the deal?
Yeah, I’ve been reading more of St. Benedict. Today in the commentary I read a story from a collection of monastic tales. A visitor asks a monk, “What do you do in the monastery?” The monk replies, “Well, we fall and we get up and we fall and we get up and we fall and we get up,” (100). Isn’t that the case in every Christian life?
Continue reading Monastic Traditions, Patch Adams, Random Quotes →
The following is a collection of quotes from a book I’m reading for one of my classes. It’s the Rule of St. Benedict, a 1500 year-old classic. A lot of the quotes I took were from the commentator’s comments. I included the page numbers from the version I have, if that will be of any help (some people who read these ponderings are actually in this class, so it will help them): “The Rule of St. Benedict: Insights for the Ages” by Joan Chittister, The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1992
“Listen carefully, my child, to my instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.” (St. Benedict, 19)
Those are Benedict’s introductory words. It sounds like wise advice from a father. Something I wish I could say about my ponderings. ;) The rest of these quotes seem to echo what I was talking about yesterday. It’s kind of odd how that happens, although I doubt it’s a coincidence.
Continue reading The Rule of St. Benedict →
A work-at-home dad wrestles with faith, social justice & story.