Monastic Skete- Daily Living A Hermit Lifestyle of Meditation: March 2008

Brother Tadhg

Brother Tadhg's website is worth reading.

http://archive.typepad.com/brothertadhg/

Timothy Keller-The Reason for God

This is number 18 on NYT best seller book list. Keller, pastor of a
large Presbyterian Church in New York City the reaches most 20-30 year
olds.

BARZILLAI

It is a strange name. I had never heard it until this week. I have been
re-reading the Psalms again and today's study is on Psalms 42-43. King
David is writing during a depressed time in his life. He says, "God
why have you forgotten me? Why is my soul so disturbed within me?"

He longs for God's house ("My soul thirsts for God.") and
remembers the times he led the procession to the Temple, but he is in
agony. His son Absalom and many of David's close friends have rebelled
against him. He is running for his life. He is made fun of and is
suffering. He is criticized and hurt by people's words.

It is during this time that an 80 year old man named Barzillai finds
David tired and thirsty and hungry in the desert and brings to him,
"Bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat
and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds,
sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat."
(2 Samuel 17:27) When asked why he did it Barzillai said, "The people
have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Last week I had one of those strange bugs going around here. I felt
awful. Tired, dizzy, tummy not well, you know what I mean! During that
time I began to think, "I bet I know how our patients feel now. It is
a tough time for them." When I am sick I feel like doing nothing but
pulling the cover over my head and trying to sleep. And during sickness
we think we will never recover. So I found myself empathizing with many
of our patients.

Anyway, it is something to think about, that is - how our patients
feel. There are people who are hungry spiritually and physically, many
are tired, and they are thirsty like being in the desert and some have
given up on life itself. What can we do for them? A word of
encouragement? A smile? Perphaps a prayer? It is a good question for
each of us.

Barzillai saw David's need and provided encouragement and food during
a crisis time. It is also interesting to note that when David was about
to die, he called his son Solomon in for last words. And some of his
last words were, "Solomon, show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of
Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by
me when I fled from your brother Absalom." Wow! What beautiful
rememberances. They stood by me !!!

So, the message for me, and for us, is that there are people to stand by
during their time of need, and my feeling is, that like David, they will
remember.

Be a Barzillai today!

Bro. Dan

Don Brennan 80th Birthday.

I received the following note earlier from Don Brennan this week. TODAY
IS HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON. Don has been a major supporter
of Monastic Skete since it began. He is an encourager. We thank God for
Don and his wife. Note his message below:

Favorite passage...among others. 80th birthday on Saturday...thank God
with me for so many graces through the years. Don Brennan

MsgTitle: Love of God for Us

Message:
Psalm 124:2 As the hills are round about Jerusalem, so are the arms of
the Lord round about His people. What a beautiful image...the hills
green and beautiful round the ancient city and the love of an all caring
God with compassion that enfolds, embraces, holds close, presses us to
His heart,... db

Father Eusebio Kino

One cannot but appreciate the exploits of Father Kino. Explorer, Priest,
and even noted as the Father of Arizona. Saw his first mission today in
of all places, the middle of the desert.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebio_Kino