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| Welcome to the Benedictine Cyber Toolbox |
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A Newsletter for Benedictine Living Today |
January/February, 2011
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An Upcoming Program
February 12, 2011: Embracing Everyday Rhythms of the Monastic Way
Community of Reconciliation at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Discover how the profoundly simple wisdom and practice of the monastic way can foster radical balance in our lives and reconciling transformation in our world.
For more information
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Greetings!
 Hello! Welcome to the new Benedictine Cyber Toolbox! Like the porter of the monastery I welcome you as Christ, and say with joy, "Your blessing, please!" RB 66.3
If you wondered what had happened to the Cyber Toolbox, I ask your pardon. A busy summer moved into a very hectic Fall. In the tradition of Chapter 71 on Mutual Obedience, I cast myself on the ground at your feet to make satisfaction and will there wait until "the disturbance is calmed by a blessing." RB 71.8
If you had received my earlier PDF versions of the newsletter you will now be able to quickly access different websites where you'll find information and more practical wisdom from Benedict. For example, for a wonderful resource about the Rule of St. Benedict, click here.
It's my hope that you'll find this newsletter a source of inspiration and practice drawn from the Rule of St. Benedict to help you in your daily journey.
Jane |
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 Featured Article
Listening in the New Year
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I have a rule of life...never make New Year's resolutions. Too discouraging!
A few weeks ago I reviewed the 2010 ministry plan that I made last January. As usual it was full of wonderful ideas but too ambitious. Along with the regular work I do--preparing for retreats, giving retreats, teaching, writing, correspondence, slogging my way through the mysteries of technology and the like-- I had added a considerable amount of administrative work, study and personal goals. Fueled with the fervor of the planning process, I coupled my enthusiasm for the envisioned activities with a characteristic absence of discernment about what I really could do. Instead of making choices that were realistic, I happily vowed to do it all. Benedictine moderation thrown to the wind!
I had forgotten that one word that Benedict gives us to open his Rule..."Listen!"
Listen carefully, my child, to my instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from one who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it into practice.
Prologue, Verse 1
Listen with the ear of the heart to what is really important and throw your energies into that!
And so I offer to all of us, me included, one word for 2011, just one word to keep before us as we journey through 2011...LISTEN.
Click here to read on....
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A Benedictine Tool:
The Practice of Listening
Purpose of the Tool: To provide some ways to practice listening and seeing.
Background on the Tool: In the newsletter article for this issue I suggested that to LISTEN can a spiritual practice for the new year; by listening as Benedict says in the Prologue, "with the ear of the heart,"
The Tool: Start modestly. Begin with an hour of intentional listening with ear and eye. Notice what you hear and see; what you think and feel. Be present to the person, the outdoors, the work you are doing, to your thoughts. You don't need to have in mind, "Now I'm talking to Sue," or "Now I'm working," etc. Just really be with whatever it is, be fully present and notice what you hear and see. You might even envision Jesus beside you, giving you encouragement and help. After the designated time, reflect on your experience. Then, begin again with this intentional listening and seeing. At the end of the day you may wish to take a moment to reflect on where you found God's presence through your intentional listening.
Benedict gives us encouragement when he says, "What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace." Prologue 41
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 The Book Corner
A Recommended Read
The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Frank
What could a book entitled The Zen of Seeing offer the practice of Benedictine Spirituality??? Benedict says that "the divine presence is everywhere" (RB 19.1a) and bids the monastics to stand and sing the psalms in a way "that our minds are in harmony with our voices" (RB 19.6b). I see both statements as a call to be fully present. This is the message of Frederick Frank's book. I first read and used his book last summer when I lead a retreat at the Adelynrood Conference and Retreat Center. (Adelynrood owned and operated by the Episcopal Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross.) The retreat was titled "Our Senses as Pathway to God." At the retreat we explored how our senses connect us to God in both the extraordinary and ordinary events of daily life. To be fully present using our senses was a theme of the retreat.
Artist and writer Frederick Frank gives us a way to be truly present so that we see deeply and not just look. Frank calls this technique "Seeing/Drawing" and the beauty of it is that you don't need to be able to draw at all! In Seeing/Drawing the point is not to draw a perfect leaf, flower, twig or blade of grass. In fact you don't even look at the paper as you draw. The purpose is to see with "undivided attention."
I have a lovely perennial garden and it was there that I first tried "Seeing/Drawing". Focusing my attention on a single coral bell leaf I followed Frank's technique. My eye slowly moved around and into the leaf as my pencil drew what my eye was taking in. My coral bell leaf didn't look like a leaf, yet as I "drew" it I was stunned and awed at the intricacies of one single small leaf in God's unfathomable creation. That's the point! If we can find a spiritual practice where we focus on seeing an object deeply, my belief is that it will help us to more deeply see daily life around us.
As artist and illustrator Ruth Councell recommended this book to me, I recommend Frank's wonderful book as a tool for the spiritual practice of being in the present moment.
The Zen of Seeing: Seeing/Drawing as meditation drawn and handwritten by Frederick Franck.
New York, New York: Vintage Books, 1973.
To learn more about Frederick Frank click here.
To learn more about or to order this book through Amazon.com, click here.
To see a picture of Jane's coral bellplants, click here.
You can visit Ruth Councell's website to see her beautiful and moving artwork by clicking on this link. |
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Some Upcoming Events
Exploring the Divine in Art A Spiritual Seekers Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
Date: Saturday, March 26th
Join Jane on this guided experience of seeing works of art as windows to the holy. You can find more information by clicking on this link.
Holy Rhythms for a Balanced Life -
A Benedictine Experience
Date: Tues., May 10 - Sun., May 15
Place: Holy Cross Monastery
in West Park, New York
If you're searching for balance in your life and would like to explore the Benedictine way of living, join Jane for this Benedictine Experience at Holy Cross. For more information click here.
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Bring Jane to Your Church, Monastery or Organization!
 Plan a Retreat ot Program
Jane is available to do retreats and programs in the Benedictine Tradition and Spirituality. Content is personalized. Programs will bring the ideas to life in a practical and down-to-earth way.
Retreats are modeled by Benedictine balance-time alone and time together, and time for rest, study and prayer. 
Contact Jane at 908-233-0134,
cell-908-463-3252
or via email at
janetomaine@stbenedictstoolbox.org
For ideas and possibilities you may wish to view a list of retreat programs and participating groups on the web site by clicking here.
Jane's Scheduled Retreats and Programs for 2011 are frequently updated and published here.
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Thank you for reading The Benedictine Cyber Toolbox
Hope you have enjoyed the The Benedictine Cyber Toolbox!
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Contact Information
Jane Tomaine
908-463-3252
janetomaine@stbenedictstoolbox.org
Please email Jane with comments and suggestions about the newsletter!
Thank you!
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