My Daily Struggle in the COVID-19 Lockdown

 Hello, everyone, and thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I'm doing better, and the medication is helping. It's not a cure-all, though. I just need to keep praying, and and make a wide berth from all negativity.  Good news: the prior from the monastery finally called back. He has been in physical pain all summer after getting treatment for a serious illness (it's not COVID-19). Please pray for him. He told me that I am actually well ahead of him in preparing for my oblation due to my reading and trying to keep a daily prayer pattern of Vespers, and sometimes Compline, Terce, and None. I am glad to continue since, while it is nice to be wanted by the Catholics, I am a Lutheran. I may use incense and use not-so-holy water when I pray at my altar, but there will be no Hail Mary's or Salve Regina's in front of a statue. Do I love and respect Mary as the mother of my Savior? Of course. Will I "cry to her" call her my "hope", or ask for her "...

Today was very eventful. It was also my last day at St. Augustine's House. I will be coming home in the morning. While it is great to be on the mountain for a few days, it is time for me to grasp some of the gems I found and return to the plain. Before I go further, I made one minor error. The term the Reverend Father used is called "trans-rational analysis," not "trans-reason analysis." Mea culpa. In talking with The Wife last night, she gave me her blessing to join the Fellowship of St. Augustine, or, more formally, the Congregation of the Servants of Christ. I therefore completed the application for membership, handed it over to the Reverend Father, and I am now an oblate. After Dinner (lunch), I took a hike in the forest and almost stepped on a snake. Don't worry; it was a garter snake, and it ran away. After None prayers, I did some writing and then took the Reverend Father's dog, Midnight, for a walk. Rather, he took ME for a walk! At Vespers, ...

This has been a reflective day for me. I was able to meditate more. I also talked to the Reverend Father about issues I have been having. It has been a while since I have been able to sit and talk with a clergyman about my problems and experiences. He assured me that we all feel trapped eventually, which is how I have been feeling--partly the reason why I have quadragentaphobia (Yes, it's a word; look it up). He explained quite a bit to me. He told me about trans-reason analysis. By this, if I an trapped in a proverbial box where nothing makes sense, rise out of the box to analyze other boxes to get the big picture. He taught me about how to look for resolutions when there are no solutions in sight, and that finding a resolution is a shared task between me and anyone who shares the problem or is affected by it. He also talked about what dead churches look like and the characteristics of those who don't care that their church is dying.He acknowledged that there are those who m...

First full, and long, day at the monastery. Since I had gotten in late last night, I didn't get up on time for Matins (or Vigils), which is at 5:10 AM, but I did make it for Lauds, Terce, Holy Eucharist, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. Very beautiful and simplistic simple chanting. Almost as cleansing as the Missionary Baptist call to worship chant (aka I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry). The food isn't the best so far (for a picky eater like me), but I was prepared for this. Besides, the food was the least of my motivation to come. There are three monks here, with two "fathers," including Father John Cochran, the Father Superior. A "father" is simply an ordained pastor who is also a monk. There is also a postulant who is an immigrant from Korea. There were also 3 Lay Benedictines who are residents here, and a father and a son who are visitors. I have been invited by the Reverend Father to become a Lay Benedictine. As I almost consider myself an independ...

Made it to the monastery! The train was an hour late in arriving because they were having brake problems long after we left Union Station. So annoying; it seems as if I always have problems when I travel. The place is very nice--right in the middle of the forest. Very quiet too. The Father Superior is the one who picked me up at the station, clad in a brown cassock, cincture, and scapular with a hood. He even wore the traditional sandals. He told me the history of the only Lutheran monastery in America, and one of three in the world. I will take many pictures and post them--including of my room, which is twice the size I thought it would be. I would write more, but I need to get to bed. After all, matins are at 5:10 in the morning. --Signing off.