Going dark

Or, finding light in stability in community

Training as a monk is one of the defenses we have against those times when the world goes dark. I don’t say “being a monk” because I’m not sure one ever actually gets there. Benedict says in the prologue to his Rule that he doesn’t want to set down anything harsh or burdensome for those who aspire to life as a monk, but that doesn’t mean it won’t require the effort of serious training, and there are no guarantees.

So why develop a monk-practice? Because life is not ours to control.

As I write, the social media app TikTok has “gone dark,” which is affecting the livelihood and consumption patterns of millions. The devastating fires in Los Angeles have turned the world of many thousands of people totally, despairingly, dark. The inauguration of the 47^th president of the United States with his ensuant threats has many fearing untold kinds of darkness. And those are only three examples, and just in one country.

Darkness is personal, universal, unavoidable, and it cannot be judged outside of our own experience of it.

What is the role of the monk in a world plagued by darkness? Or, to bring it home, What is my role as a monk in my family, my neighborhood, my city when the darkness comes into my life, our lives? What do I practice? Stability in community is a place to start.

Benedict’s cenobitic monks, when they are to be received into the monastic community, promise to persevere in stability. The Fifth Kind of Monk, who does not live in a monastery, can humanly be in only one place at any given time. Granted, we can now be with others virtually, but when we grope in the darkness, we want to find a loving hand to hold us and that means we need a stable, physical community, whatever form or shape it takes.

The Fifth Kind of Monk commits to their training—the practice of building strong character and contributing to local community—because they know meaning lies in loving relationships. And it is Love that conquers darkness. The more practiced we are, both in facing our own darkness and walking with others as they face their darkness, the easier it will be to keep our sights on what really matters and find glimmers of light even in the midst of darkness.

Charles Murray, in Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010, writes, “If we ask what are the domains through which human beings achieve deep satisfactions in life—achieve happiness—the answer is that there are just four: family, vocation, community, and faith, with these provisos: Community can embrace people who are scattered geographically. Vocation can include avocations or causes.” He also notes that the activities that lead to this level of satisfaction have an innate importance, and require effort, and responsibility. I think Benedict would agree. (Personal note: While my political views don’t align with those of Murray, I find it helpful to read broadly and while I don’t always agree with another’s thinking, I always learn something.)

In addition to prayer and lectio, Fifth Kind of Monk training requires

1. acquiring theoretical knowledge (reading, formation classes, study),

2. intellectual wrestling with new or re-imagined ideas (gather a group to discuss ideas and share insights), and

3. actual community-building practice (doing things that build/improve community even when they are hard).

For me #3 is the most challenging. For example, last fall I canvassed in a lower-income neighborhood to gather signatures for a city-wide tenant bill of rights—very daunting for me, I don’t even like making phone calls let alone knocking on someone’s door. But as a monk in my local community, I am responsible for my neighbor. And I am trusting such work will get easier with regular and stable practice and that our communal effort will help ease darkness in our city.

And if you really want to think big about stability in community for the Fifth Kind of Monk, as well as entertain ideas about alternative living models, watch this 2016 TED talk, The New American Dream, presented by Courtney E. Martin. Listen for the values we Benedictines hold in common with Courtney, and don’t miss the call to “radical hospitality,” key to Benedict’s community. Imagine, a Fifth Kind of Monk cohousing community. Talk about bringing light to dark places…

Canvassing on one of Erie’s hottest summer days. FYI, the Tenant Bill of Rights for which we were gathering signatures was recently approved by Erie City Council.