One of our volunteers at the Mount, Karen Schneller, is a
master gardener who has devoted considerable time to the study of pruning
techniques. In February she pruned the rose bushes in front of St. Catherine’s
guest house, and I was surprised at how little of the plant was left after she
was done. Today, however, these bushes are lush and blooming profusely. Apparently,
these bushes need to be cut back to their essence to foster new growth—and the
same is true of us!
Joining the Mount community required deep pruning of my
possessions and lifestyle. Indeed, I think one reason I became a monastic was
because I knew the pruning was necessary but didn’t have the strength or
motivation to do it myself. Maintaining a house and a car and taking care of
pets required a lot of my attention and energy, and though pruning them was
painful, the sap can now flow in a new direction. In addition, considering the
perspectives and feelings of community members is requiring pruning of my self-centered
outlook, which got overgrown after years of living alone.
In a way, living in community is like being part of an
orchard—our roots are intertwined, but our branches must be pruned to make room
for other trees and to ensure that each tree receives the light and breathing
space it needs. I’m grateful for the pruning that has occurred both in me and
in the community so I can take root in the Mount orchard.
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