#submonk

[submonk]

The Three Submonk Tenets - In Review

Simplicity - contentment, emptiness, fullness, the blank slate, beauty, God - designer of the human soul, rightful owner of its largest portion, and lover of all mankind in all ages.

Humility - sinful, saved, redeemed, smallness, human, created thing, God - giving grace to the traitor and the rebel, adopting them permanently into his family.

Order - goodness, rightness, margins, decuttered, freedom, melody, justice, mercy, times, seasons, morning, night, God - in all, moving, changing, and ever always the same. (Rhythm is absorbed into Order)

And in all things, God

[submonk]

The Monk Manifesto: Seven Principles for Living with Deep Intention

We desire to live in meaningful ways, but how do we do so in a rapidly moving modern world? A Benedictine oblate scribes seven principles to help live a compassionate, contemplative, and creative life.

[submonk]

Advent - Day 4

The act of fasting today is going quite well, but I have been convicted lately that I am not fulfilling the original intention of Submonk - that is, a father leading his family into a deeper relationship with God via the monastic elements: Rhythm, Simplicity, Humility, and Order. I've mostly focused this season of Advent on my own spiritual state, and even that not so well (especially with regard to my morning office...).

On days when I work and fast, the Fast fits in well with the Rhythm of the day - until I get home. These evenings I have yet to celebrate Advent with the whole family, and simply disregard it. I would like to change that - and my son is getting old enough to start participating in a more directed Evening Office.

Lord, Christmas is a season of giving, we give each-other presents because we are celebrating and reflecting on your gift. Help me to be a good father, like you, and give my family what they need this season of Advent. Please help me connect with you better.

[submonk]

What is submonk?

My vocation is to be a husband and a father, but I think it’s good to seek wisdom from outside my vocation. I am not a monk, so in that way I am ‘sub-monk’, or less than monk.  I live in a bizarre community known as the suburbs, and so in that way I am a ‘suburban monk’.  Whichever interpretation you take - I am exploring and experimenting with incorporating traditional monasticism into suburban family life.

In my studies I see the monastic vocation offering wisdom to a man like me in four main areas:

Rhythm

Simplicity

Humility

Order

[submonk]

Intro

I'm all about doing experiments to make things better, and living life is something I want to do better.  Especially the big areas of life, like being a husband and father.  Especially the really big areas of life, like following Jesus (he is sometimes very, very hard to follow).  This is an opportunity to share life and experiments and experiences together.