Paper Writing Crunch Time

Yesterday I spent almost the entire day polishing up the paper on what it means to be a Lay Cistercian. Much of today will likely go into it also. The process is a bit like peeling grapes, if you're not careful it will all turn to mush in your hands. Prying out what I believe about the experience of being a Lay Cistercian forces me to be exceedingly clear about it myself. Rather like putting faith into words.

In that same spirit we have to admit it is easier to say the right thing, than it is to do the right thing. That applies to Lay Cistercians, as well. Listening to the voice of vocation is one thing, to give words to that voice is all together different. There is the challenge of the life, and the challenge of the words. The life brings conversion, the words, to be valid, must match, or at least be facing in the same direction.

Another thing to consider is how to make it painfully clear that what I write in the paper is not meant to be THE GREAT and ONLY definition of Lay Cisterican life. As I am finding a vocation as a non-vowed solitary who functions within the Lay Cistercian Community, so my paper is about that very thing.

Anyway, I try to remember than work and life and writing and praying, all must be to one goal. And that's the hardest part.