Shadow – My Promise for 2025
What prevents me from preferring nothing whatever to Christ?
I don’t prefer people so how can I prefer Christ? Actually, I have gotten a bit better at accepting humans since I have been living with my human, Christine. But I have a long way to go to open my heart to all humans so that my heart may be more open to Christ. And I even struggle a bit with opening my heart to my sister Novice Lilibet.
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
“Once guests have been announced, the prioress or abbot and the community are to meet them with all the courtesy of love. First of all, they are to pray together and thus be united in peace…” RB 53.3-4
“Among themselves [members] show the pure love of sisters and brothers.” RB 72.8
My 2025 Promise:
When humans come to our home, I will try to come out of hiding to welcome them. I may not pray with them, but I sure will be saying prayers to have God help me overcome my fears. And I can strive to grow in being comfortable and congenial around humans. Maybe I can become less like a shadow and more like a beacon of light!
What my human needs to learn to help her prefer nothing whatever to Christ:
Patience and hospitality in terms of anticipating my needs and allowing me to learn to trust in my own time (actually, she’s pretty good at that now but we all strive to be better).
Practices from the Rule to help my human craft her promise:
“The prioress and abbot [and my human] must always remember what they are and remember what they are called, aware that more will be expected of one to whom more has been entrusted…They must so accommodate and adapt themselves to each one’s character and intelligence that they will not only keep the flock [of felines] entrusted to their care from dwindling, but will rejoice in the increase of a good flock.” RB 2. 31, 33 Modified by Novice Shadow
“The cellarer should not annoy the members. If anyone happens to make an unreasonable demand, the cellarer should not reject that person with disdain and cause distress, but reasonably and humbly [NOT] deny the [NOT] improper request.” RB 31.6, 7 Modified by Shadow to express truth
My Human’s 2025 Promise:
Shadow asks you to join her and create your own promise.
To reach a downloadable document to help you craft your Promise for 2025: