A Cloister Revisited

By Nancy Shuman -

The Cloistered Heart is basically an analogy in which our lives can be seen as 'monasteries.'   

After all, what is a monastery if not a place where God is loved and lived for and served? 

We can be in the world but not of the world.  This is not a new or different idea; rather, it is an emphasizing, a kind of 'underlining,' of every Christian's call.  The uniqueness of this emphasis is in its monastic imagery. 

The word 'cloister' speaks of total consecration.  Those who enter a traditional physical cloister make a tangible break from the world.  Compromise does not fit well in a cloister, nor does lukewarmness, nor does complacency.  The cloistered life is absolute. 

Christians living in the midst of the world are also called to live for God.  For us, however, the break is not so clean.  The world is persistent in its tugs on the heart trying to live as God wills. 

This is where the idea of having a cloistered heart can be of help... (continue)

Comments

  1. Anonymous10:25 pm, April 07, 2014

    LOVE it! "Underline" away. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancy Shuman10:39 pm, April 07, 2014

      Thank you! Now to find that yellow highlighter :).....

      Delete

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