February 7: Climb Every Mountain!

We’ve been praying for the people and places to further God’s purpose, and it’s starting to gain momentum.  People are coming: we have our first serious aspirants to vowed community life, as well as a group of solid, devoted friends and collaborators who share our dream.  The places are starting to emerge:  we put down an offer on a big old worn-out house, a place with the potential to really welcome a lot of people in a variety of ways.  We won’t hear for a while whether our offer is accepted, but even getting that far is a stunning step.  We could only do it because we deepened in clarity about the third part of that prayer: furthering God’s purpose.

Elizabeth and I took vows of conversion of life through poverty, chastity, and obedience.  We understand poverty to be simplicity of life, mindful of the difference between needs and wants, trying to repair some of the gross inequality and pain of our economy.  And we do live more simply than many people we know; fewer clothes, less meat, less entertainment.  But we still live very comfortably.  And it’s been grating.  

When we saw this place, we weren’t impressed.  It needs a lot of work, and we were intimidated.  But it has the potential to house us much more simply, and to share what we have more readily.  And we don’t want to hoard, building up a big bank account while there’s ministry to be done and people in need.  

Years ago I realized that my greatest fear was not that I would “fail” or be poor; my greatest fear was that I would die without ever really following Jesus.  This house has the potential to help me really follow Jesus, to risk a lot for something big.  I am daunted, even terrified, at the thought of finding the money to pay it off; but this is a dream worth being terrified for.  And under the fear, the ego layer of fear, is deep peace and gratitude.  We are leaping, further each time, toward the loving arms of Jesus.

This is what we all need and deserve: As the Mother Superior sang in The Sound of Music, “A dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life for as long as you live.”  I pray that you may have a dream as big as this, and the courage to live it out.  And please pray for us, and for God’s will to be done.