Black Pearl – My Promise for 2025
What prevents me from preferring nothing whatever to Christ?
What gets in the way of preferring Christ is that I prefer me! What REALLY annoys me is when I don’t get my way. And I like to be first! And I DON’T like to be told “no.”
Practices from the Rule to help me craft my promise:
“Obedience is a blessing to be shown by all, not only to the prioress and abbot but also to one another, since we know that it is by this way of obedience that we go to God.” RB 71.1-2
“Renounce yourself in order to follow Christ (Matt 16:24; Luke 9:23).” RB 4.10
“The first step of humility, then, is that we keep the reverence of God always before our eyes (Ps 36:2) and never forget it.” RB 7.10
My 2025 Promise:
I promise to make a special practice of obedience and to ease up on my demands. I think that I will then be more peaceful in prayer and can learn to prefer Christ more than me.
What my human needs to learn to help her prefer nothing whatever to Christ:
My human needs to learn to mind her own business and stay out of our sibling conflicts. My sister Diamond and I have lived together for almost thirteen years, and we’ve got a good thing going on. I protect my sister, and I claim my share of her food for that protection.
My human also needs to learn to be more adventurous and curious, like me! And sometimes she needs to learn to hiss and growl and stand up for herself, as long as I’m not the one she hisses at!
Practices from the Rule to help my human craft her promise:
“They must so accommodate and adapt themselves to each one’s character and intelligence that they will not only keep the flock entrusted to their care from dwindling, but will rejoice in the increase of a good flock.” RB 2.32
“Let us get up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Rom. 13:11). Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God.” Prologue 9a-10
“Rid your heart of all deceit [instead, steak up for yourself]….or turn away when someone [this includes you]needs your love.” RB 4.24, 26 Modified by Black Pearl
My Human’s 2025 Promise:
Black Pearl asks you to join her and craft your own 2025 Promise.