Diamond – My Promise for 2025
What prevents me from preferring nothing whatever to Christ?
I strive to be a peaceful kitty and have a very quiet life. I get upset when anything disturbs my peace. This happens when my sister Novice Black Pearl bullies me or when strangers come to our home.
Practices from the Rule to help me craft my promise:
“All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, who said: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35). Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith (Gal 6:10) and to pilgrims.” RB 53.1-2
“This, then, is the good zeal which members must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another.” RB 72.3-6
“Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else.” RB 4.20-21
My 2025 Promise:
I promise to lead with love. I will do my best to welcome strangers. I will also welcome my sister Black Pearl even though she is not a stranger. But she shares the faith with me and I can practice seeing Christ even in her.
What my human needs to learn to help her prefer nothing whatever to Christ:
I think my human needs to learn how to care for herself lovingly. I have trouble doing that myself. My fur is so full of mats that it cannot be brushed any more. My human’s friend who is an expert on cats says that I was too scared of everything even to remember to groom.
So, speaking from experience, I know what it’s like to neglect self-care. My human needs to slow down, take time to recover from her illness, and take firm but gentle care of herself.
Practices from the Rule to help my human craft her promise:
“…all things are to be done with moderation on account of the fainthearted.” RB 48.9
“But after Sext and their meal, they may rest on their beds in complete silence.” RB 48.5
“Each year, two monastics who can do the work competently are to be assigned to this kitchen (the guest kitchen). Additional help should be available when needed, so that they can perform this service without grumbling [or wearing themselves out].” Modified by Novice Diamond
My Human’s 2025 Promise:
Diamond asks you to join him and craft your own 2025 Promise.