From the beginning of the existence of the Missionaries, Eugene had insisted on the necessity of leading a balanced lifestyle. In his letter inviting Henri Tempier to join them he had written:
One part of the year will be devoted to the conversion of souls, the other to seclusion, study and our individual sanctification.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 9 October 1815 O.W. VI n 4
In their vision statement the Missionaries had written:
The end of this Society is not only to work for the salvation of others by dedicating itself to the ministry of preaching; its chief aim also includes providing its members with the means necessary to practice the virtues of religion…
Request to the Capitular Vicars of Aix, 25 January 1816, O.W. XIII n.2
That this would not remain wishful thinking, we see how seriously Henri Tempier took it at ND du Laus:
I have also made a decision, whether we were always busy with people making novenas or not. At ten o’clock in the morning, I have them ring the community bell. That tells us that we are all to leave the confessional and go to our rooms; to read, write or do something else. In the evening, the bell rings only at four o’clock. By this means, we have an hour and a half in the morning and the same in the evening. It’s the only way to get something done without killing ourselves; Saturday evening and Sunday, it’s a different story, we have to be there the whole day.
Letter from Henri Tempier to Eugene de Mazenod, 19 June 1819,
Oblate Writings II.2, n. 14
Eugene continued to insist on this till the end. For example, in 1842 he wrote:
Do not let yourselves be overwhelmed by the work which will soon surpass your strength. One must never want to do more than God permits. Plan all things wisely. Above all, always reserve time for study and for your personal sanctification in the interior of your house. That is indispensable.
Letter to Jean-Baptiste Honorat, 26 March 1842, in O.W. I n. 10.
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” Thomas Merton
Like yesterday, today the conversation seems to be ‘packed’. Again the wisdom of Eugene and Henri is timeless. I could spend so much time simply reflecting on each paragraph and phrase and somehow coming back to it during particular parts of my day. What kind of gift is that?
Eugene’s message in his letter of 1815 to the Capitular Vicars of Aix suggests that there cannot be one without the other. I am reminded of that symbol for eternity, without a beginning and without an end, there is only the movement and flow, back and forth and in balance. So there is our ministry, our living out the love that God has filled us with and there is that very love from/with God. If there is not balance, if I drop one in the favor of the other, or if it becomes only the living out of the ministry for it’s own sake then I am missing an integral part of myself, I am not in touch with that part of myself that gives me life (God). It is never one or the other. I find it very hard to put words around it all. Thomas Merton though has captured it perfectly.
What is even more awesome to ponder though are the gifts that God gives to each of us to remind us of our connectedness and needs. God takes the opportunity to present us with communities (specially for those of us who do not live in “religious community” as did Eugene and the Oblates), be they immediate family, parish, prayer groups, work or school. I am finding in my courses a ready-made community as we pray, discuss and discover together. It is a time of being able to focus on God in a particular way, away from work and other demands. It is for me nourishing and renewing. It is time where I am being ‘carried and filled’ in more ways than one – always when I so need it. Jesus would withdraw from his ministry from time-to-time to pray, reflect and touch base. God is so great that not only am I reminded of what I need, but also presented with endless opportunities that allow me to do and be who I have been created to be. I again find myself filled with gratitude – another part of my being.
How I have needed these words in the past and yes in the present and will in the future. We in the de Mazenodian family-Oblates have a tendency to work hard and well. But what I have seen is that we-or at lease I, did not take the time to study and prayer-even now my reading list is long.
In recent years, especially since living in Aanmodaya Ashram, and Oblate Ministry of the Indian Province I have been more conscious for the need for Harmony and Balance.
It is for this reason we live in community where the rhythm of the house supports us.
Jack I love the phrase “Harmony and Balance” for the words bring to mind images of what we spoke of in the past two days and our connectedness to all of creation, our part in all of it. If part of us becomes disconnected it affects us all somehow.
Thanks
I am reminded this morning of a story that one of our pastors used to tell every once in a while about how when he was newly ordained and full of fire set out to “save the world” and how he would work at this as if this was his job alone and it rested on his shoulders. And he would always end the story with a small laugh as he shared with us God’s comment of “but I have already done that!”
I need to remind myself of that sometimes. I can get so tied up in what I am doing, in the “doing” that I forget to take time and just “be”. I need to remind myself sometimes to allow God to be God – he does that so much better than me!
I need to take time to simply stop and focus on God and the endless love that he has – for me – for each one of us. It is getting easier now as I age for my body is slowing down and I find myself simply unable to do all that I used to, to move at the fast pace that I used to set for myself. Even my health sometimes dictates that I lessen the load and spend more time on simply being still, opening my eyes, my ears and my heart a little more and experiencing all that is before and around me.
Perhaps that is the grace of aging – the desire and the ability to simply slow down and take in all of the incredible beauty of what is offered to us. There seems no more (or at the very least a lessening) the need to grasp at and capture the beauty of God’s love that is all around us. Rather than pick the flower and put it into a pristine setting in order to enjoy it’s beauty, to take a picture to try to capture it forever, or to run and get caught up in “fixing” a person it seems that more and more I find myself simply stopping and taking the time to experience the beauty around me, opening myself to the wonder of all of creation and giving thanks for it as I meet it.
Like all grace it ebbs and flows but it is there. It still feels a little strange sometimes when I find myself in the act of simply not doing, of going to church to simply be there with and to receive, of walking down the road simply to walk and enjoy every step along the way(rather than rushing to get to another place), so stop and watch and hear the waves crashing to the shore, feeling the spray and noticing the ever changing of each wave as it reaches up on the sand and rocks.
This seems to be what God is ‘permitting’ me to do these days. It is a joy that I have long deserved.