Stepping in from the hot, bright, summer day it took a moment for the eyes to adjust to the darkened interior of the church. There was no air conditioning but the inside was cool, and pleasant, shaded from the heat of the southern sun.
Light beamed in through a single, round, stained glass window, above the alter. The primary color in the glass was blue with a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, in the center. The blue light beam cast angular shadows past square columns and reflected off white walls.
The building was constructed of concrete blocks,with no art work, or padding on the kneelers. It was simple and plain like the lives of the poor, humble, monks cloistered in the monastery there.
It was the life that I was drawn to, a simple life of work, and prayer, the Rule of St. Benedict. I have learned that if we do not hold to our calling we most certainly can be unhappy. A monk living in the world stays in conflict with it. “Remember, if the world does not love you, it didn’t love me first.”
