We have a monastery right here in Rockdale County, Georgia.
I have written about the monastery before. Look at the side of my blog, you will see one of my most viewed posts is about the Monastery. In that post, I mentioned the monk who wrote in our local paper, James Stephen Behrens. (He had written about Amy Winehouse and how cruel people could be on the internet.) He died recently and his memorial service was last week. I will very much miss his column in the Rockdale Citizen.
You may read more about him just here. And if you go to that link, you will be tickled by the fact that one of the monks made a mistake listing the date of the memorial service and he called himself a "bad monk". (Made me smile.)
James Stephen Behrens wrote several books and his main theme is that grace is in the ordinary things of life. "Portraits of Grace" is a lovely book with beautiful photos from the Monastery.
This is the second post where I have links for you to read but they are worth your time, I promise.
Peace.
I like his philosophy about the ordinary little things of life. RIP
ReplyDeleteI notice that the article about Amy Winehouse that he wrote in our local paper is no longer a valid link. That's a shame, because I think you would have liked to have read that!
DeleteFather James wrote beautifully.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
He really did and I will truly miss reading his writings in our newspaper.
DeleteThank you for your comments on my blog. I've had some problem posting comments and replying to comments. I think I have things figured out now.
ReplyDeleteHey Ed! Now you have that figured out, come to Georgia and help me with all my little problems. Wish you could! :-)
DeleteI remember your post about the monastery. I am sorry about the death of the monk. He sounds like a loved man.
ReplyDeleteWish I could have gone to his memorial service. I was able to attend the service for Father Anthony when he passed away. It is very moving to see the thanksgiving for life of a monk.
DeleteI am sad that Father Behrens has left this earthly life. I will look for some of his books. I certainly believe it is in the eveyday things that the sacred is encountered.
ReplyDeleteThe sacred in everyday things, I think I read that he loved the teachings of St Therese of Lisieux, "The little flower". I am sure you must know who she is.
DeleteMy condolences to all who knew this excellent man.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had known him but as you know, when you read the written word from someone, you feel as if you do know them.
DeleteMay he RIP
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks very much, Jan.
DeleteI went to the link and read a few of his sermons and was moved by his words and observations of life. I'm so sorry for the loss of such a sweet person but I'm sure he's happy in his eternal home. We have a Greek Monastery near us and see the monks out and about our town. They used to give tours and when I was scheduled to take one it was cancelled by the monks and I don't think it ever was opened again for the public. I was very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you read some of his sermons! I hope you are able to see that monastery near you one day! Perhaps you could contact them and ask if you could.
DeleteI ordered a copy of Portraits of Grace and it's arriving tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteOh! That's wonderful! You can also look at their website...it is trappist.net
DeleteThey have an online store and ship everywhere, I think! They make their own fudge, biscotti and fruitcake. It is all very good!
By the way, I have read that they have the largest food bank for the whole state of Georgia. That means they give more food away than anyone else!
Dear Kay, thank you for this posting and for introducing me to Father James. I've never read his books, but now I'll see if I can find one. What he says on aging is so true. Years of independence end with our realization that we truly need others and in that need we find a depth of love that makes us One with all Creation. Thank you. Peace.
ReplyDeleteA Depth of Love...thank you for your comment and giving me that phrase that is very comforting to me. Peace to you always.
DeleteThank you for visiting me, Kay! I will check into the song you told me about. I think I know it... I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about the passing of this wonderful man...very moving sermons...I will check out more!
Thank you again for stopping by. Your words blessed me.
Grateful for your words! That song I told you about...a few years ago I took my Dad to a gospel singing, we heard the Dove Brothers sing that song. They were wonderful. I lost my Dad in February and "Didn't I Walk On The Water" was a song that gave me comfort.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like he will be missed by many. I've only been to one Monastery, and I'm trying to remember where we were. We were on vacation and just happened to see the sign and stopped. So glad we did. I was with my daughter, so know it was on the west coast. Will have to ask her, believe she took pictures. She said she had been to a few retreats at a Monastery and always found them to be very special places.
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about the Monastery here, they welcome visitors and it is a blessing to visit there, if only for a short time. It feels like you are miles away from your normal world.
DeleteThank you for your comment, Sandy. Take care.
What a wonderful man! Peace and blessings.
ReplyDeletePeace to you, too. Aloha! xx
DeleteRIP, sounds like a fine gentleman. My mother always told me, never speak ill of the dead. Amy Winehouse was such a tortured soul. One never knows what goes through the mind of anyone else. People hate the politics of it all, but I will stick by the fact that schools do "nothing" about bullying and watching for their students odd behavior. A woman I know was the soccer coach for one of the Columbine shooters when he was five. She said he was an empty soul. A tragic series of sadness in the world. only God know the whole story. Thank you for visiting me Kay. I appreciate your kind words. HUGS and LOVE
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad fact that bullying has become the accepted norm in our schools. And for those who might have mental illness too, that can send them over the edge. My sister lives in Colorado and I was there only two weeks after Columbine, to visit her. I saw the blue ribbons everywhere.We need to have something in place to prevent murder in our schools. That is what it is. No matter how tortured a soul may be, we need to preach to our youth that you do not take a life. Period. (Sorry, I really think I should have been a preacher,but I am sincere.) Thank you for visiting me with your kind words!
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