Unleashing Your Inner Monk

Here we go with another LIFE Nugget! This Sunday we begin our new series, "Unleashing Your Inner Monk." The idea may sound strange, I am even going to wear a monk robe to church for a while. It may seem strange of perhaps even silly, but there is a method to my madness.

I have spend a great deal of time researching the roots of Monasticism in Christianity. I have come to some conclusions:

First, while monasticism may some association with ascetic practices, it is not all about torturing yourself.
Second, monasticism is not totally about hiding from the world, it can be about engaging it.
Third, monasticism is about saying that the status quo of life is not acceptable.
Fourth, monasticism is about showing our world that there are better and more important things to live for.

Personally I find these ideas very attractive. I love the idea of rejecting status quo and doing things that are counter intuitive, edgy, and sometimes, anti establishment. I like the idea of saying that where I am in my spiritual life is not good enough. I like that idea of pursuing God radically. I like the idea of living a life devoted to the sermon on the mount. Those ideas are very powerful, dangerous, counter culture, concepts that Jesus gave us to show the world how to live life as a revolutionary.

The journey of unleashing my inner monk has been a long and drawn out process. It is something that I am still working on. I do not have all the answers but am thrilled with the chance to explore, to learn, and to grow. So why not come with us on the journey and unleash your inner monk.

Blessings