Teddy Bear – My Promise for 2025
What prevents me from preferring nothing whatever to Christ?
What gets in the way? When I dig in my paws and refuse to do what I am told. He didn’t. When I do this I paw myself away from his love and his guidance in my life. This creates problems for my human and frustration for me…maybe a tad of guilt, too.
Practices from the Rule to help me craft my promise:
“The second step of humility is that we love not our own will nor take pleasure in the satisfaction of our desires; rather we shall imitate by our actions that saying of Christ’s: I have come not to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me” (John 6:38). RB 7.31-32
“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
“When they are to be received, they come before the whole community in the oratory and promise stability, fidelity to the monastic life, and obedience.” RB 58.17
My 2025 Promise:
One of the reasons that I joined the Feline Cloister as a Worldwide Novice is to become a better spiritual surrpawt for my human. Learning obedience, especially with her, will be a step in that direction. I can model obedience, no small feat for a feline. But, because I love her, when I resist, I will remember Benedict’s words: “Obedience is a blessing.” This will help me to offer that blessing to her.
What my human needs to learn to help her prefer nothing whatever to Christ:
My human has an important and demanding vocation as the Amma to her church community. She needs more times of quiet to restore her soul and listen to God.
Practices from the Rule to help my human craft her promise:
“Listen readily to holy reading, and devote yourself often to prayer.” RB 4.55-56
“Yet, all things are to be done with moderation on account of the fainthearted.” RB 48.9
“Seek first the reign and justice of God, and all these things will be given you as well (Matt 6:33), and again, Those who reverence the Holy One lack nothing” (Ps 34:10).
My Human’s 2025 Promise:
Teddy Bear asks you to join him and craft your own 2025 Promise.