The Ladder of Humility

Grace invited John Chapman of St Hugh's Northolt to help us reflect on Benedictine spirituality.

The idea of The Rule was not as a legal imposition but a grid which gives guidance and structure.

The evening opened with a short video from The Monastery showing the importance of listening and silence in a conversation, and the need for humility - one of the a key words.

A reflection on the Ladder of Humility followed by communion.

Fear the God who sees all
Desire only the Father's will
Submit as unto the Lord
Embrace difficulties for Christ
Confess all sin, conceal none
Be content with the lowest task
Choose humble attitudes not just words
Follow the common rule
Control the tongue, learn silence
Beware careless laughter
Speak gently at all times, be meek
Show humility in one's bearing

The service was curated by Richard and Sue who have provided a book list.

Strength to Love

I see in the Guardian that George is giving up on Iraq having spent much of the reconstruction money on bomb squads, prisons and other defensive measures. Coincidentally I have been browsing a book by Martin Luther King, Strength to Love, which contains the following:

"And there are heard-hearted and bitter individuals among us who would combat the opponent with physical violence and corroding hatred. Violence brings only temporary victory; violence, by creating many more social problems than it solves, never brings permanent peace. I am convinced that if we succumb to the temptation to use violence in our struggle for freedom, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and our chief legacy to them will be a never-ending reign of chaos."

Look out for Iraq - Why We Went to War? on Channel Four Monday 9th January. It's part of the The Bloody Circus season - a series of provocative films which offer a range of critical perspectives on the war in Iraq and its devastating consequences. You may have seen to trailer!