Picture a monk and a novice, in a 13th century English monastery, conversing while tending the garden. Brother Adam, the monk, asks a question of the novice to begin what he calls his "Truth about Monks" catechism (I am editing out all but the dialogue for space):

"What do you think is the most important quality for a monk to possess?"
"A desire to serve God, I think," the boy said. "A great religious passion."
"Really? Oh, dear. I don't agree at all."
"You don't?" The boy looked confused.
"Let me tell you something," Brother Adam cheerfully explained. "The first day you pass from your novitiate and become a monk, you will take your place as the most junior among us, next to the monk who was the last to arrive before you. After a time there will be another new monk, who will be placed below you. For every meal and every service you will always sit in the same position between those two monks--every day, every night, year in, year out; and unless one of you leaves for another monastery, or becomes abbott or prior, you will stay together, like that, for the rest of your lives."
"Think about it. One of your companions has an irritating habit of scratching himself or sings out of tune, always; the other dribbles when he eats; he also has bad breath. And there they are, one each side of you. For ever." He paused and beamed at the novice. "That's monastic life," he said amiably.
"But monks live for God," the novice protested.
"And they are also ordinary human beings--no more, no less. That," Brother Adam added gently, "is why we need God's grace."...
..."The most important qualities a monk needs," Brother Adam went on, "are tolerance and a sense of humor ... But these are both gifts of God."

Obviously, living in community today is not quite the same as the setup in those days, at least not in the sense of having to sit in the same chair and in the same order for the rest of our lives. But the underlying theme here, of learning the shortcomings of each other and learning to live around and, in some cases, in spite of them, still holds true. Commitment, whether in a marriage or in a community of believers who are committed to walking out their salvation together, requires that we sometimes set aside our view of the proper order of the universe in order to make accommodations for one another. In this journey that we are on together, we should take the journey seriously. But we must be on the lookout that, in doing so, we don't take ourselves too seriously. Remember that, if those on either side of us are sometimes irritating, so too are we irritating to them at times, too. Having a good sense of humor will serve us all well as we travel together.

| posted by #Debi | 6:17 PM | 5 comments

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