Monday, October 1, 2018
6:21 PM
“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” ~ Meister Eckhart
How can this be his recommendation? He obviously does not know I have spent years studying scripture, theology, engaging in Lectio Divina and scriptural reflection. What is the point of this journey if you never get anywhere? Aren't we supposed to progress each and every day through thought, study, prayer and application? I have a reputation I want to enjoy. How can I when I am supposed to be willing to be a beginner every morning?
Eckhart gets right to the heart of the problem. I want to be more but he teaches the importance of being less. My ego is wounded by being called a beginner. I have worked too hard too start over again once much less everyday.
As I reflect further I understand I am only being asked to be a beginner and not to start over. What it really means is to be willing begin again every day, to be open whatever new experiences, insight or events might come my way that day.
Since I am an alcoholic, I know the importance of taking each day one at time. That is all we really have - only today. I can decide today to not drink but I can't decide it for every coming day in advance. Like Joshua, I can only chose to serve the Lord today. It is a decision to be made everyday. And I do. Some days I am a better servant than others but that is good part of the promise. Tomorrow I can do better.
It is principle of Benedictine spirituality that each day we begin again. It does not mean we go back. It just means we start again from where we are that day and to go from there. To begin again is to make ourselves open to see what God has created or what he has in mind for me.
It means that I can be suddenly reminded of the intense flush of color of the clumps of berries on the Mountain Ash in our yard. I can learn something new from someone in my life whom I value. I can offer something new of myself to others as well. Today I can see the brightening color of the leaves in our trees that was observable
Also, I can learn something new about the wordl that I would have overlooked if I had not been willing to begin again.
October 4 - Addendum.
There is another reason I had previously understood about the need to be willing to start with the beginning. Sometimes I encounter a newcomer in AA or some other place and to invite the beginner requires the ability to begin again with the beginning. This is true for many pursuits. Music, martial arts, sports and so on. There must always be a starting point and there must always be someone willing to meet a new person from the beginning. This is also true for sharing faith. All common journeys must being from a common starting point or shared life experiences which bind us together can never develop.
Since I am an alcoholic, I know the importance of taking each day one at time. That is all we really have - only today. I can decide today to not drink but I can't decide it for every coming day in advance. Like Joshua, I can only chose to serve the Lord today. It is a decision to be made everyday. And I do. Some days I am a better servant than others but that is good part of the promise. Tomorrow I can do better.
It is principle of Benedictine spirituality that each day we begin again. It does not mean we go back. It just means we start again from where we are that day and to go from there. To begin again is to make ourselves open to see what God has created or what he has in mind for me.
It means that I can be suddenly reminded of the intense flush of color of the clumps of berries on the Mountain Ash in our yard. I can learn something new from someone in my life whom I value. I can offer something new of myself to others as well. Today I can see the brightening color of the leaves in our trees that was observable
Also, I can learn something new about the wordl that I would have overlooked if I had not been willing to begin again.
October 4 - Addendum.
There is another reason I had previously understood about the need to be willing to start with the beginning. Sometimes I encounter a newcomer in AA or some other place and to invite the beginner requires the ability to begin again with the beginning. This is true for many pursuits. Music, martial arts, sports and so on. There must always be a starting point and there must always be someone willing to meet a new person from the beginning. This is also true for sharing faith. All common journeys must being from a common starting point or shared life experiences which bind us together can never develop.
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