On the Monk Who Dwells in Daily Life

The major part of a monk's life is given to a strange "work" = liturgy. The word means "public work or performance." We laypersons think of work as something we do to make a living and stay alive, care for our families, find meaning and achieve a modicum of success. We may justify our lives by it.

The monk gives up this source of meaning and transfers it so "soul work." The work of the monk is liturgy.

We could discover from the example of the monk that there is an odd kind of work that feeds the soul and not necessarily the body. A few moments with a painting, a sunset, a sonata, nothing - might give the soul its sustenance, its meaning, its reason for existence.

Thomas Moore - Meditations

quote has been with me all week. may it be with you this sunday.