The Vowed Life of Creation

As part of my discernment for making final vows, members of my living group and I met with representatives of the formation team to discuss this step. The sisters in my living group were asked to reflect on what has helped them keep their vows over the years. Sr. Elaine Fischer said, “Make a commitment to spend time in nature; it will teach you everything you need to know about living a monastic life.”

Richard Rohr notes that creation was the first scripture, or recording of God’s word, so it makes sense to look to nature to learn how to live out the monastic vows of stability, obedience, and conversion of life. For example, trees stay rooted in one place (stability), but this does not keep them from spreading seeds of new life. An apple tree is obedient to its call to produce apples, although it might prefer to produce peaches. Deciduous trees submit to conversion of life (willingness to change and give up control) by responding to the demands of the seasons—budding in the spring, producing fruit and oxygen in the summer, shedding leaves in the autumn, and resting in the winter. Trees also live a communal life by communicating with each other and providing for each other’s needs through their root system.

It is no wonder, then, that St. Benedict called for monastics to engage in manual labor outdoors, for nature is a great teacher. St. Benedict provided time in the monastic schedule to read not just printed books but also the book of creation. As Psalm 19 says so eloquently,

The heavens declare the glory of God,
     and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
     and night to night imparts knowledge;
Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
     and to the ends of the world, their message.

I am happy to take Sr. Elaine’s advice and spend time outdoors to absorb the knowledge that God’s firmament imparts.