Freedom ~

The Wise Old Monk told me that freedom does not consist in ridding myself of pain and suffering but said that I would be free when I learn to accept them and let them give meaning to my life.

Wise Old Monk ~ When Calamity Strikes

We were talking about Japan and Alabama and I asked where God was. He said something like true, deep faith is arrived at by way of doubt.

De Diligendo Deo ~

The Wise Old Monk told me: "Don't rely on the community in your search for God. You must learn to search alone."

Wise Old Monk ~

During a conversation I asked him where he found all the wisdom he imparts to others. He was embarrassed but said: maybe one has to suffer.

De Diligendo Deo ~

I was a young seminarian who asked the Wise Old Monk how I could best learn to love God. He said: first learn to love a girl. I looked at him and creased my brow.

Searching ~ Finding

Look for Him not in books, nor in discouse. Look in your heart.

God's Created World ~

The Old Monk told me to look upon Nature as God's attempt to communicate with me.

Wise Old Monk ~

He looked me in the eye and said: You don't need much to be happy.

Practice Dying ~

I went back and asked the Old Monk why I should try to practice dying. He said when we die we are in a state in which we have shed everything worldly. Only at that moment are we ready to receive God.

Letting Go ~

In a follow-up to yesterday's "emptying oneself" the Old Monk said: learn to relax and let go. Practice dying.

Emptying Oneself ~

The Wise Old Monk told me to learn from my computer crash. He said I should learn from it what emptying onself means, the term the mystics used to explain what was necessary to achieve a union with God.

Wise Old Monk ~

I was jammering to him about my feelings of inadequacy. He said: if you live out what you know you will receive from God what you do not know.

Sex Life ~

I asked the Old Monk if monks knew what discovery, creativity, and fulfillment can be involved in intercourse between the sexes and if there was anything in a monk's life that could approach that.

He smiled and said he could not speak for all monks, but that he himself had intimate intercourse with God every now and then, depending on God's willingness.

Pat Answers ~

I told the old monk frankly that on all the great issues I had no solid stand . . . always torn this way and that. He looked at me and said: You are on the right path.

An Act of Hope ~

The Old Monk asked me:

• what I would do if I had a box for a long time in which I believed there was a great treasure but I had never opened it. When I finally did I found it was empty. What would I do? 
• I said I would get rid of it.
• He said no, I should hold onto it and keep believing.

Monk's Wisdom ~

"Don't you realize that life is essentially God's search for you and your search for Him?"

Wise Old Monk ~

He was saying that in order to have something you must give it up . . .

Castitas ~

I dared to ask the Wise Old Monk if living a life bereft of sex didn't give him the feeling that he was going to waste.

Yes, he answered. . . but added that it was that very feeling that kept him focused on God.

Holy Old Monk ~

I said: I never see anything without seeing God in it.

He said: I never see anything but God.

Paradox ~

The old monk was telling me how bright light and complete darkness can exist simultaneously . . . and somehow I understood.