Neo-Monasticism seems to be a buzzword going around Christian circles these days. Put as simply as I can, it is the effort to order one’s life and rhythms around Christian worship and community while still maintaining a life in modern culture. What I would like to do in the spirit of Lenten preparation is offer an invitation to begin the next right step toward altering the rhythm of your life into the way of Jesus. Let me first begin by telling you my journey.This journey into neo-monasticism began about three years ago. I had just graduated from Belmont, had aspirations of making it in my band, and enjoyed working a couple hours a week with the St. Bartholomew’s (or St. B’s as it is affectionately called) youth minister, Fr. Dixon, and his youth group. Then one Monday my car broke down. I had recently spent the rest of my savings on repairs for the old car and I was finally out of money. This new repair was going to cost double the car’s value, so I sold the car to the mechanic for $200 and went home. The next morning I woke up, terrified and broke. I felt like I was now at a major life crossroad and had a choice to make: Quit the church job, get a job that paid more and pursue the band or quit the band, and pursue my calling in ministry. As is apparent, I decided to pursue my calling in ministry, however, there really wasn’t a job there at first. It was a simple church administration job; the official job title was Youth Assistant. At that time I thought, “certainly, this wasn’t really an actual ministry job.” And those voices in my head took a hatchet to my ego on a daily basis.
Then a young kid named Noah started coming to St. B’s. He was an old family friend of Fr. Dixon’s and a freshman at Belmont. He needed a ride to church every Sunday, so I would pick him up and through our conversations on the way to church, decided to do a Compline service on Tuesday nights at Belmont. This then evolved into doing an Evening Prayer service in the rectory on Thursday nights (what is now called Victus). Which then turned into me leading Morning Prayer once a week. Which turned into going to noon Eucharist on Wednesdays. Which has now evolved into a rather robust daily prayer life that I’m not sure I can live without.
My point in telling you all this is not to boast, which would be quite ironic and contrary to the teachings of Jesus. What I do want you to draw from my story is that my neo-monastic journey didn’t begin overnight nor have I arrived at the end of my Christian formation. Developing a rhythm of life in the way of Jesus begins now. For me the illusion was that somehow I would find holiness when I became ordained and got matching job title. I would further argue that I wouldn’t still be here at St. B’s (still as an Assistant, still broke) if it weren’t for a life in daily prayer reminding me of who I really am.
I imagine for you if you’re reading this, you too long for a life of rhythm in the way of Jesus. But you tell yourself that you will begin once your debts are paid off, you get to a particular rung of the social ladder, get married, the kids move out, or you retire. The biggest enemy to our Christianity in the modern age isn’t the government, the media, terrorism, or other religions. It is competing narratives. Those stories we tell ourselves to give our lives value and meaning. The “have-tos” in our brain that drive us into doing more work, buying more things, and driving more fear. This is precisely the reason why we need to begin developing a daily life of prayer and forming rhythms and patterns into the way of Jesus.
Adopting rhythms of life centered on the Christian narrative begins to transform our ontology. The very way we understand who we are and our purpose in this world is formed by the stories we tell ourselves. Every morning I wake up and go to the church for Morning Prayer. Every morning I am told my value comes from God’s love for me, I should not be afraid, and the only thing I have to do is love and forgive my neighbor. As I begin to adopt Jesus’ narrative, the other narrative gets quieter and quieter. The voices in my head that tell me I’m not ok unless I have a certain job title, that tell me I need to make more money or busy up my calendar, these voices are quieted everyday I live in the story of Jesus. Because the story of Jesus has always promised us that all the fame, fortune, and happiness in the world will come to an end, but the way of Jesus will sustain us and the rest of creation for eternity.
I share my story with you, because I it demonstrates how Christian practice is about the next right step. I came to my former rector, Fr. Jerry, a while back with this big plan to turn the rectory into a monastery. He suggested I start by simply going to Morning Prayer everyday. Often times we get inspired and try to reorient everything in our lives and in turn only disorient ourselves. This Lent as we adopt rhythms and fast, ask what is the next right step? Christian formation is like training for a marathon: you don’t learn to run 26 miles overnight.
I would like to invite you to do Morning Prayer, maybe just one day a week. Perhaps spend just an hour a month volunteering. Meditate and see what rhythms God is revealing to your soul. Be still and listen to God’s voice for a change and begin the journey of quieting the voices that are leading you away from wholeness and peace.
