Recently I listened to an NPR story about the chanting monks at The Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Rather strikingly the monks being interviewed briefly talked about the 'purposeful' monotony of everydayness in the monastery. Having retreated to an abbey a few times, I can vouch for this. The monks there were on a routine: they rose, they prayed the 'Hours' eight times a day on schedule, they worked, they ate at the prescribed times, and they went to bed. Then they got up and did it all over again.
In my daily life, I despise tasks that become monotonous, especially at work. I desire a job where I do not get bored and can avoid the routine -- you know, those tasks that become mindless because you've done them way too much. I have yet to find this dream job. Obviously, I don't know how well I could 'monk' it out in the desert for very long. My one-week retreats were exciting because they were new. But, what would I do once I hit that point where I get tired of the same things? Would the prayers just become mere words after a while? Would I passively resist my duties? Would I try to sneak out to catch the latest picture show?
Perhaps I would do better to embrace the monotonousness of life because as the monks of the desert monastery suggest, the monotony is an opportunity to develop an inner life. And perhaps there would be great creativity in those inner moments. If everything on the surface is status quo, then we have an opportunity to turn inward. Yet, maybe this is why repetitivity becomes so discomforting because all you have left is the inner you to tune in to, and sometimes people run from themselves (I know I do). A good friend once told me he couldn't be alone with himself too long because he gets too in his head. I've read that this phenomenon occurs when people have to endure silence --another key aspect of the monastery as there are usually designated places of quiet.
I'm not saying everything in my life has to be routine or that I shouldn't change things up when I want or that I should give up on more interesting work. I'm just thinking that maybe the routines that I find dreadful could be more enriching if I just learn how to 'be' in those moments. Maybe the routine would then become some of the best moments of living. Thich Nhat Han says doing the dishes can be a joy for 'not only do we do the dishes in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes just to do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them' (p27 Peace is Every Step).
I want to learn how to live fully during the daily routine of life. Maybe there are all sorts of little treasures to find in the 'butt-ends of my days and ways'.
Kahlil Gibran--one of my favorite poets--says that we are busy because we are not at peace in our own minds. I often contemplate this when I feel like I am running from place to place, task to task. I will often wonder, "Am I trying to avoid something here?" The answer is probably yes.
ReplyDeleteAnd, "Peace Is Every Step" is a beautiful work. I've returned to it multiple times.