Recently, I have been reading a book by Scott Bessenecker titled
The New Friars. In it, he speaks of how many of the revivals in Christian history have been ignited by different orders of monks who have responded to the needs of the world in unusual and extraordinary ways. He also describes a new monk that seems to be arising from modern society to comfort the poor in the world, the unloved, the abused, the orphaned, the prostitute, the addict, the “trash” and the slum-dwellers.
These neo-monks do not attach themselves to any particular denomination of Christianity and instead focus on the driving factor of incarnational living for the King. These young adults give up their lives to go and live among the poor, in the slums of India, or among the prostitutes in Thailand. One particular passage from a girl who had worked among these prostitutes sums it up with such vigor and passion:
“I have the unfathomable luxury of walking away, of signing off, of saying good night. While my conversations are coming to very neat, concise closes, she’s tucking her kids in, putting her shoes on and taking the rest off. The red glow of her night is on and she’s tossed from one set of dirty hands to another. There are rules in place, rules against going without protection, rules against sexual violence. But once the door is closed, the only rule is his desire. She only knows that tomorrow her kids will again be hungry, and this is the cost of her love for them. Yes, it matters today. It matters tonight, because there are still six hours until morning. And while we can afford those six hours, she cannot.”
I thank God that there is a generation that sees what is happening in the world and is not afraid to do something. That is not to dismiss anything that others have done in different ways, but to me, it speaks volumes for these neo-monks. They have purposefully given up being the one with the desire to being the one who is abused by those with unsatiable desire. I want to be part of this new generation that says enough- I will be the whore of God’s love. I will give it unconditionally whether I want to or not, not for money, but because my Savior asks me to lay down my life for others.
Again, my metaphors are maybe too bold, but it is meant to evoke emotion. It is meant to make us look at this world with horrified eyes and want to do something. And that something is Jesus. May I offer Jesus unconditionally on this Race. May I follow Him without embarassing Him. I apologize because too often I have been the one that is controlled by my own desires, instead of the one that controls it. I think that that is why I am often so fascinated by monks in general.
They give up their desires in order to serve and find joy in the daily tasks. They must constantly deny themselves in order to fulfill their vows. And that is one final thing about the book that I liked. The vows are not meant to be rules that confine or refuse joy, but rather, they are more like the hand ropes on a wooden suspension bridge- meant to guide and protect. From what? From ourselves. Lord, may we vow this next year to deny ourselves and fight with joy this fight that You have prepared us for. May You lift me and the others when our bodies cry rest, may You give us the Bread of Life when our bodies say food and may You give us hunger when we become too full. Neo Monks unite!
