Ora et Labora

01 Jul Ora et Labora

Now that we have entered into the season of summer, my retirement and immanent departure are becoming ever more a present reality. I am becoming present to the reality that all of these disciplines of preaching, writing newsletter articles, moderating Session meetings, and the like are coming rapidly to an end. Most everything that I do in ministry will be one of the last times I will do it. This recognition creates greater awareness about the ordinary, which is where the extraordinary always shows up, if we are awake enough to perceive it.

People have asked Rosanne and me, “What will you do upstate, in the country?” Knowing Rosanne, you should know that the answer is, “A lot!” The model that I have in mind for our coming life is taken directly from Benedictine spiritual practice—ora et labora. Prayer and work. The Benedictine tradition has found for over 1500 years that a pattern of life which centers around simplicity, conscious work, and a rhythm of daily prayer is conducive to spiritual growth. That’s what we hope to create and discover—a daily rhythm conducive to spiritual growth. Preparing meals, keeping house, organizing our garage and machines, stewarding our property, enjoying nature, and bringing our awareness constantly to God.

The ideal is to create a balance between ora et labora, prayer and work. My expectation is that we will have to work hard at making sure that ora gets its due and is not overwhelmed by labora. Ora or prayer includes meditative stillness, reading and holy conversation, contemplative moments in nature, and a constant remembering of our spiritual nature. It means impartial self-observation amid the moments of the day. Having been shaped by the Protestant work ethic, most of us know what labora or work is. The real practice is to make sure that our work is conscious and not dominated by egoic energies. In monasteries, when the bell is rung for worship, one immediately stops what one is doing, whether the job is finished or not. The real end is not the work itself, but what the work is doing in us.

I am trying to practice ora et labora now, before retirement begins. Can I be prayerful in work? Can I be rigorous in prayer? Can I be present to God in each moment? It’s humbling work this road to greater presence and awareness. It is God’s work for us all. For a few more times, see you in church!