Mankind destroys, mankind redeems. The propensity to have things fall apart is ancient, dreadfully woven into the nature of humanity. Notwithstanding the theological difficulties the idea entails, the Scriptures suggest sinless-chaos as the LORD's first foe. Each work of God, the incarnation, the resurrection, the church, etc. appears as a movement from chaos to order.
Whose order? From my street-side view, our work (although laced throughout with its own chaos) is somehow a part of that divine movement. But let's not too quickly judge ourselves as if God were on our side. All the work of God by human hand, barring Jesus himself, is laced with its own chaos. Even the Cistercians displaced many a settled home as they sought 'refuge' from the disturbances of society and looked to remake inhabitable corners of the world habitable to their vision of life. But the eyes of faith see the glimmer of divine graceful order weaving its way in and through the work of even bloodstained human hands.

If you see the world as a place of suffering or pain, sometimes the best you can do is to laugh at its absurdity. Ignoring the reality of tribulation could put you in danger of missing a true lesson. One of the Psalms says, The darkness is my closest friend, and although that sounds stark, it is liberating to recognize when all around you seems to feel like trouble. Sometimes that is when we are most ready for God’s work. As Thomas Merton, a well known monk has written,

We must be ready to cooperate not only with graces that console, but with graces that humiliate us. Not only with lights that exalt us, but with lights that blast our self-complacency.

To be cynical is to laugh from scarred point of view. But at least you are still able to laugh!

Gummy Bears and Poor Substitutes

I think that I have an addiction to gummy candies now. German gummy bears are the absolute best. This was not an issue before we got out here and I wouldn't say it is one now. I think. It may be under control only because gummy bears are hard to get here. Yet whenever I do open a bag of those little colorful guys it's fruit-bear carnage. Normally, I wouldn't be the guy with the sweet tooth but no more. I don't know, it has to be the wine thing. Usually, back in Germany, it is nothing to put away a European share of beer with guys or wine with the wife on any given night. Not so here, violation of orders--and yes for good reason. Okay, I am going to go try to bum or buy some candy and then get around to writing a sermon.

Good Fridays

A few months ago here in Baghdad during a spike in deaths among our own, our small group of ministerial brothers together decided to set aside Fridays for prayer. Some of us fast a meal or two, some gather in our chapels at a certain hour, and some quietly pray in our offices. We invite anyone anywhere to join us. Friday is significant as a day of contrition considering it was the day of Christ's death. Sundays are for resurrection, Fridays are for death; Sundays for standing, Fridays for kneeling; Sundays for strength, Fridays for weakness; Sunday a feast, Friday a fast. As ancient and biblical as any cycle of prayer, the week witnesses to our union with the life of Christ come into the world's moments of life and death. Pray with us for peace in our time.

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—and it was not there … in her fertile fields and boundless forests—and it was not there … in her rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there … in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59)

From Cluny to Cîteaux--Did I really ask for this?

In order to make some sense of life over the last couple of years far from my usual comforts, I’ve turned through the pages of books reflecting on

men and women who ran from civilization into the desert in order to find God. Having spent some of my childhood in the Sonoran desert, my early notions of desert life considered it a controlled place of play and adventure. Now as a man, the desert has taken on a more horrific sense. It strikes me as odd to think of finding God here. Yet, these desert men and women were convinced that their trek into the desert was a journey toward divine majesty. When I've found God's presence elusive, they have pointed out that time in a Pauline Damascus can lead to Christ. The letter to the Hebrews seems to suggest the same inviting us Today to see the holy in an unholy harsh place.

Father Doulus “the slave” and student of Father Bessarion tells a story of God’s presence: When we were walking along the sea one day, I was thirsty, so I said to Father Bessarion, Father, I am very thirsty. Then the old man prayed, and said to me, Drink from the sea. The water was sweet when I drank it. And I poured it into a flask, so that I would not be thirsty later. Seeing this, the old man asked me, Why are you doing that? I answered, Excuse me, but it's so that I won't be thirsty later on. Then the old man said, God is here, and God is everywhere.

God is here.