The Christian life is one of self-denial, suffering, repentance and communion with the Lord. It is a life we should strive to live, a life of loving our neighbor and loving God. However, in today’s world, our lives are often filled with endless distractions and constant busyness, which gradually draw our attention away from friends, family and the Lord. In our consumeristic and individualistic society, we tend to focus on what we want and often sacrifice the least to attain our desires. This could manifest in gluttony and needless indulgence or in greed, where the pursuit of power or wealth becomes our main goal.
In this broken, secular world, Christians should learn to embrace qualities and habits of monasticism. Monasticism is often ridiculed, misunderstood or dismissed, yet Christians from the very beginning have lived ascetically. Now, I am not suggesting that you drop out of college and live as a monk in the mountains. Instead, I am encouraging you to embrace the godly pursuit of the Lord in such a way that you are willing to create space for Him and deny yourself in the process.
At the heart of this article, I ask: “How much are you willing to sacrifice?” I could talk about habits and moral reform, but without confronting this question, your perspective may never change. Monks and nuns take vows of humility, obedience, chastity and poverty. From an outsider’s perspective, this can seem bewildering; who would want to give up their autonomy to live a life of obedience? Who would be content living in poverty and never striving to climb the corporate ladder? The answer lies in the intention and heart of the individual. It is about surrendering one’s will to the will of God, eliminating the possibility of temptation and striving to live a life in full communion with Him.
Monks devote hours a day to silence and solitude to pray to the Lord. They meditate on His Word, create quiet space to hear from Him and practice patience by praying for long periods, rather than offering quick, fleeting prayers. I am not trying to critique anyone, what I am saying is that we should strive to endure hardship in order to strengthen ourselves for the Christian life. Are there moments when you are doomscrolling for hours? Why not devote just five minutes to the Lord in prayer? This brings us back to the question of sacrifice and self-denial.
We should also embrace the self-reflective and meditative nature of the monastics meditating upon God, the Word, our sinfulness and our redemption. Self-reflection is essential, both for our faith and our psychological well-being, as it allows us to grow and change. Without searching our souls and minds, how can we learn more about our nature, our past hurts and our faults? Some of the greatest theologians dedicated their lives to self-reflection and unceasing confession because they understood that we are broken and undeserving of Christ’s mercy.
Our environment also shapes our minds and thoughts. If we fill our lives with bland, sterile spaces, we deprive ourselves of beauty, art and nature. God is the Creator of beauty, so why should we not surround ourselves with it? Monks spend their time cultivating gardens and creating beautiful religious art. We too, can cultivate beauty by planting flowers, starting a garden or engaging with poetry such as the Psalms. Art is vital in our lives, yet in this over-consumeristic society, we often spend our money on fast fashion or shallow entertainment. The key is the condition of one’s heart and recognizing what is truly necessary and being wise in how we spend our time and money.
Overall, Monasticism has invaluable advice and practices that we can apply to our own lives. Learning to live with less, understanding the importance of beauty, cultivating a communal and quiet time with the Lord. These are just some of what we can learn and put into practice to think upon good and holy things. The greatest virtue of all is love, loving God and your neighbor.
Photo submitted.
