Take Thee to A Nunnery: Why Visiting A Convent Might Be Good For You!
A few weeks back I read a fascinating article by actor/freelance journalist Elizabeth McCafferty on I left my party lifestyle behind for a week in a nunnery – and began to see the light.
As I made my way back home after seven days, I contemplated how much I really give back to the community – and reflected on the difference between wanting and needing something. I realised that I am a master of procrastination and actually, could do with a little more structure. I rely on tech, money and chatting to friends as tools to escape being on my own – and to mask deeper emotions. As I approach 30, this experience has really helped me to shift my focus and prioritise being more present. My stay at the abbey might just have been the path to contentment I didn’t realise I needed so much.
It is a fascinating article about the value of escaping work, partying, screens, busyness, and business. I think we resonate with the idea of escaping expectations, distractions, and temptations or a time.
What I find interesting is that McCafferty has basically discovered something that has been ubiquitous in the Jewish and Christian rhythm of life: sabbath.
The idea of the sabbath is that we should make time every week to rest from our work so that God can work in us. The practice of “sabbath” has always been an important part of Jewish and Christian ideas of self-care and spirituality. That is something that is more important than ever in a 24/7 work schedule and in cities where everything is on offer all the time.
I think it’s fascinating to see that people, even coming from a secular place, finding wisdom in getting some sabbath in their lives. Stop, reset, reflect!
Funnily enough, my eighteen-year-old daughter and her friends, for a girl’s day out, went and visited a convent to spend a day worshipping and chatting with Anglican nuns. In her words, it was interesting, weird, and fun all at the same time.
Maybe everyone needs to, “Take thee to a nunnery.”
Interesting piece Mike. Bonhoeffer, Stott, Mouw & others have shown interest in forms of New Monasticism. There are a few of these communities around Melbourne. Also, Palace, I think at the Kino, Mon night at 8 is showing Free, a doco on bunch of Spanish monasteries.
From David Brainerd’s diary (18th century):
"Friday, Oct. 22. Uncommonly weaned from the world today: my soul delighted to be a stranger and pilgrim on the earth; I felt a disposition in me never to have any thing to do with this world. The character given of some of the ancient people of God, in Heb. 11:13. was very pleasing to me, `They confessed that they were pilgrims and strangers on the earth,' by their daily practice; and O that I could always do so! — Spent some considerable time in a pleasant grove, in prayer and meditation. O it is sweet to be thus weaned from friends, and from myself, and dead to the present world, that so I may live wholly to and upon the blessed God!”