I’m listening to a rooster crow outside my window on this foggy morning in The Netherlands. The monastery I’m staying at has a daily rhythm giving continuity to each day, the rooster crows, the coffee brews, a meal is served, and a moment of silence observed.
There is a purposefulness to every routine. I watched a young man with down syndrome dutifully sweep cobwebs from the foundation of the building-brisk-brush-shuffle-review. My soul finds delight in this pace and intentionality of life. When my interior life, my desire for rest and ease, finds a habitat that matches my insides, I feel at home.
Lessons I can bring home with me
- A moment of silence observed before every meal.
- Finding a quiet moment throughout the day to walk outside.
- Recognizing and acknowledging that I have everything I need right now.
