in conyers, georgia there is a small community of monks who, like most monks, work and pray hard. they suffered a terrible fire last year and have had several deaths in their ranks but their faith doesn't waiver.
i am not a catholic. the whole idea of a enclave of superior men would normally be anathema to me...
until i started vacationing with them! i needed to come aside and rest awhile -- as the saying goes.
i did it for 3 years and now can't because of physical limitations. it is really hard on the body to do as they do -- everyday and forever. also, the monks are now "discovered" for their fruitcake, bonsai, fudge, and whatnots -- it is increasingly hard to schedule time w/o belonging to a catholic group. like any community, they had their challenges recently, deaths,a massive fire, midst being so open to the world.
i stayed a week each time. i followed the monks' schedule, which is brutal at first, and then brilliant after the first 2 days. whether to follow none, some, or all of the "hours" is totally up to the retreatant.
no matter how the particular day had been, compline gave me inner peace. i don't recall ever being read or sung to sleep as a kid. and so it has fallen to these dear monks to sing me my first lullaby:
save us from troubled, restless sleep
from all ill dreams your children keep
so calm our minds that fears may cease
and rested bodies wake in peace
[normally followed by a singing of psalm 142
good night all y'all.
profderien
