Reflections on the Rule at Advent

Dr. Brandon Beck

Lay Chaplain, COHI

Monk, The OOOW

Theology Student, Brite Divinity School

“It is hard to let go of the past, and yet, until we do, there is no hope whatsoever that we can ever gain from the future.”

—

“[Priests] had been a world unto themselves and leaders of others. In the monastery, they would have to be formed in a whole new way of life and spirituality. They would have to defer to the presence and needs of others. They, who had given so many orders, would have to take some. They would have to begin again. It could be done but it would not be easy.”
-Chittister

Author Melody Beattie works with Hazelden Center and their publishing house to share theories of codependence recovery and what she calls “the language of letting go.” In a series of daily devotionals, Beattie shares stories from people in recovery on that language of letting go and on the process of hope and beginning again.

In The Language of Letting Go, on December 31, Beattie references her textbook Beyond Codependency: “Fun becomes fun, love becomes love, life becomes worth living. And we become grateful.”

Beattie gives a little advice for the new year ahead, and it sounds a lot like Benedict’s Chapter 60 and Chittister’s adjoining commentary: “Wait, and expect good things–for yourself and your loved ones. See the best in your mind; envision what it will look like, what it will feel like. Then let it go. Come back into today, the present moment. Do not obsess. Do not become fearful. Live today fully, expressing gratitude for all you have been, all you are, and all you will become.”

Benedict and Chittister tell us it is hard for priests wishing to join a monastery to let go of the ways they had leadership, status and influence in the outside world; Beattie says those in recovery from codependency have trouble letting go of fear of what is coming and fear of what has been.

In each case, we can begin again through community, stability, and conversion of self, growing together in the fullness of Christ, knowing that everyone with us is beginning again as well.

Amen.