The cloister members Sisters Nikki and Espy along with the Resident Novices are seated in a semi-circle around Br. Ricky in the Chapter Room. Hushed mews are heard as the felines anticipate the first discussion of how the Rule of St. Benedict can help humans.
Through Zoom Technology the images of the Worldwide Novices appear on a large screen at the front of the room. The novices wave their paws at each other and purr. Resident Novice William is grooming. Br. Ricky notes this, sighs to himself, and makes a mental note to help him to be more respectful and attentive.
Sr Espy, OSB-F
Br. Ricky, OSB-F
Sr. Nikki, OSB-F
Resident Novice William
looking a bit off-task
Worldwide Novice Humphrey Slocombe Smith: One thing you could do, Br. Ricky, is to slow down a bit. I mew this to my human who doesn’t know how to relax. You could take more time to go out onto the porch. I know you like to sit in the warm sun and look at where you used to live before Amma and Prior John took you into the Cloister.
Br R: Oh yes, I love to watch the birds, the squirrels, and even the dogs being walked on the street. That’s a good idea, Novice Humphrey.
Sr Espy: Paw time on your calendar, Br. Ricky. It can be like scheduling a meeting, but only for you.
Aproach the Task or Responsibility with God
Sr Maggie: Sometimes the things that bring stress cannot be offloaded right away like your leadership role in NAAFBOD. So maybe trying to reframe that task. Benedict gives us a way in the Prologue.
“First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to God most earnestly to bring it to perfection.” Prologue 4
Here we ask for God’s help. We acknowledge that we cannot do what we must do alone. This help, of course, will be provided. (The felines nod and purr.) And we turn over the result of the task over to God.
“Perfection” om tis sense is not our idea of perfection or perfectionism. We pray that the result will be God’s completeness. I think that both are key to a balanced life. We do what is before us, we trust in God, and we don’t fret over the result.
Be Guided By Our Deepest Desire
Worldwide Novice Benjamin: I know that I am the newest here, but as a one-eyed feline, I would like to offer my perspective. Is that ok? (Benjamin looks hopefully at Br. Ricky.)
Br. R: Absolutely, Novice Benjamin. In the Rule Benedict explains that the superior turns to community members when an important decision is to be made. This is what we are doing here, planning how best to help humans. Benjamin, you’ll like what Benedict says here. (Br Ricky quickly paws open his Rule to Chapter 3 – Summoning the Community for Counsel.)
“The reason why we have said all should be called for counsel is that the Spirit often reveals what is better to the younger [either in age or in time in the community].” RB 3:3
(Novice Benjamin gives a happy meow.) Please share what you are thinking, Benjamin. (All the felines nod in agreement.)
Novice Benjamin: I believe that another important point that will help us discern how we spend our time is this. Our life needs to support our deepest desire. We need to look at what we do and ask, “Does this support or not support my deepest desire?”
Br. R: What an excellent point, Novice Benjamin. As best as we can, all that we do can support what is most important to us.
The Felines Make Their Charts
Br R: Cloister members and novices, are you ready to do your chart to see what it says to you about a balanced life so that you can help your humans?
(Excited mews and meows are heard all around, including a number of feline thumbs up. Br William seems once again off task. Br. Ricky makes a mental note to help him stay focused.)
I put pieces of 8 ½ by 5 paper on the table. And lots of colored pencils and felt tips pens. (Purrs are heard around the Chapter Room because they all love playing with colored pens and pencils.) Worldwide Novices find paper and pens at home.
In an orderly fashion, please rise, go to the table. Pick up a piece of paper and a colored pencil or pen of your choice. Then return to your cushion. Sr. Maggie will provide the instructions.
(The novices stand up, stretch their front legs, then their back legs, and scurry to the table in an orderly fasion with excited mews all around
(Eagerly the Benedictine felines and the novices begin to fashion their charts.)
Sr. Maggie’s Instructions for Doing the Chart
Human readers, you are invited and encouraged to join the Cloister Benedictines and the Novices do this exercise. It will only take a few minutes. Use a colored pen if you would like to or even several colored pens. That’s even more fun.
Please don’t feel you need to do all these steps at once. You can do your chart and then let it all percolate.
STEP 1: Draw your chart. Put all activities in as circle as done by Br. Ricky.
STEP 2: Mark what brings you the most joy and what brings the most stress.
STEP 3: (Optional) Mark a few things that bring positive energy, and a few that have negative energy.
STEP 4: What are your priorities? Mark these.
STEP 5: What do you most deeply desire? How do the activities support or detract from this desire? What is missing, like Br. Ricky’s lack of study time?
Step 6: Take some time to ponder what this chart is showing you.
Postscript
(Br. Ricky calls the novices an Benedictine to set down their pens and pencils and rejoin the group. There is a cacophony of energetic mews and meows as the felines share their experiences doing the chart.)
Worldwide Novice Emma “Puss”: (Emma waves her paw.) Sr. Maggie, why did you want us to make our chart in a circle?
Sr Maggie: (Purring) Because now I would like you to write “God” in the center. God is at the center of all we do. When we embrace that more and more, God will help us step into a life that is more balanced and filled with greater peace.
(Purring, the felines write “God” in big letters at the center of their charts.)
© May 2023 Jane Tomaine