The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
DO WHAT YOU SAY
Maybe you have read my blog on Mean What You Say (maybe not). Meaning what you say is about aligning your mind with the words you say. Doing what you say is about aligning your heart with your activity. Christ is always urging his disciples to mean what they say as well as doing what they say. His admonition to us to “love one another as I have loved you\” is one of the commands he left us. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Remember that Christ got angry when he found out people said one thing but did not honor God with their hearts. By their fruits, you will know them, He said to us.
Let’s tease apart this saying, one that happens to us quite frequently, if we reflect on it. I was at Panera’s last week awaiting a meeting with someone about Lay Cistercian spirituality. It was set for 10:00 a.m. I waited and waited, but no one showed up. I didn’t know why until much later. They told me they forgot. My point is: people had good intentions to meet but did not do what they said. There are consequences for all actions. On my part, I wait for them to make the next move if they want a follow-up.
As one who tries to practice Lay Cistercian practices each day, I have made a promise to seek God every day and move from self to God. How I do that varies each day, but usually includes Liturgy of the Hours: Liturgy of the Word, Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, daily rosary, daily Eucharist, Lay Cistercian gathering meeting once a month at Good Shepherd, Tallahassee, Florida, attending Lay Cistercian Gathering Day at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit (Trappist) Conyers, Georgia, and typing up my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) for two or three hours per day, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament at least once per week. All these, plus some others, I have promised to do as tools to help me convert my life from my false self to my true self.
If you say you are going to do something to someone, do it.
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The Center for contemplative practice 