Quoting from Pete's cited Wikipedia article:
Archbishop Cosmo Francesco Ruppi noted that, "Interiorization of the spiritual dimension, the primacy of solitude and contemplation, slow penetration of the Word of God and calm meditation on the Psalms are the pillars of Camaldolese spirituality, which St. Romuald gives as the essential core of his Rule."
The monastic, and contemplative life is often considered an escape into a world isolated from the rest of the human race, wherein the escapee constructs a peaceful life far from the madding crowd that had provoked their need to discover another way to live their life.
Francis of Assisi was also driven by a passion to change his direction away from empty pleasures towards assisting all who needed his practical help.
Emptying oneself, of oneself to receive divine inspiration resonates in all major religions.
κένωση (kenosi) is a daily process permitting the divine presence to fill us with all that He invites us to do, when we of our free will choose to deny our self driven wants, enabling Him to reveal His life in ours.
The monastic life is for very, very few people.
Jesus of Nazareth did not choose the monastic path preferring to mix with people in their homes, at celebrations such as weddings, workplaces; where ever He believed that He could be of practical assistance for those in need.
Each of us grows through socialising with other people, especially those who are difficult to relate too. From my experience I learn more from those who are problematic, and troublesome obliging me to search within for inspiration that can assist me during challenging moments.
Here I have often invited the reader to spend time alone in silence each, and every day; to switch off and let the inner person speak to us of our own need to change our way of relating to others, before assuming that we can assist others.
The divine presence encourages us to reflect on the day rapidly passing to learn lessons, and prepare us for the day ahead in anticipation of having learnt something of value. Each day we rise from our bed and face the sun (The Son) we are inspired to do all that The Father invites us to do, thereby revealing His life in our own.
Metanoia is much more than a change of habit, it is our free choice to replace our own self centered wants, with the requests of Divine Wisdom to permit His plan for our life to take up residence, and guide us one day at a time.
“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end submit with ever fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.” ~ C. S. Lewis
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