tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post2244364978979811948..comments2023-10-23T12:23:54.134-05:00Comments on Larry James' Urban Daily: In the world. . .Larry Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-45683061381419923512007-03-25T20:11:00.000-05:002007-03-25T20:11:00.000-05:00One more thought:A monastery is no haven from the ...<I>One more thought:</I><BR/><BR/>A monastery is no haven from the pains of the world. Indeed, in the silences of its halls, one can perhaps more easily hear the cry of those in need than even in the screaming streets of the city. <BR/><BR/>Where man falls mute, God sings.Jeremy Gregghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122578682015984032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-78377127941269419572007-03-25T12:03:00.000-05:002007-03-25T12:03:00.000-05:00I think that there is a great misunderstanding abo...I think that there is a great misunderstanding about what drives a person to the monastery (here, I am speaking as a Catholic of the Catholic monastic tradition, but I suppose there are parallels to other religious devotions as well). I also speak as the brother of a man who has recently chosen that path, and as someone who is contemplating his own walk with God in this world.<BR/><BR/>Turning away from the world is turning away from the revelation of God. <BR/><BR/>I think that there are many ways of doing this. One is by entering the monastic life to escape the world. The other is by burying yourself in select parts of the world that you find comforting, and avoiding the pain of the world.<BR/><BR/>In this way, I am beginning to learn more about how turning away from the pain of the world is turning away from the purest manifestation of Christ before us.<BR/><BR/>Choosing to face the pain, but with an open, hopeful heart... I think that is the great test of this life.Jeremy Gregghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122578682015984032noreply@blogger.com