A poem by Brother Charbel Allen
Below is a reflection paper by Novice Brother Charbel Allen,
his response in poetry to “The Practice of the
Presence of God.” I appreciate the intensely
human and contemplative thrust of Chad’s
poem, rich with biblical, liturgical and nature
imagery. Christ human and divine is present
throughout, as is heartfelt love.
-Fr.Robert Hale
Whispers of a Friar: A Meditation on Brother Lawrence of the Ressurection
by Brother Charbel Allen
The heart is the oratory,
wander not.
When He knocks, answer.
The good Carpenter will not
hesitate to build a tabernacle
within your soul.
The Shepherd will search with
tender and patient eyes,
through golden fields of wheat,
or the darkest muddy swamp.
There is no place His love will
not enter.
You must give your “Yes” in this
moment which springs eternal.
Place this “little yes” on the tip of
an arrow, and with reckless abandon,
Shoot!
The Spirit will direct its way, for there is
no place the target is not.
Fill the body with inner-adorations,
from the tips of the toes, to your very
finger tips.
In this way,
each step will be His step,
each reaching out of the hand will
be a chance to touch the hem of His garment.
“We must know before we can love.”
So know Him, know Him in the fullness of your day,
in the abyss of your night.
Know Him in the recesses of your heart,
know Him in every face you see.
Then love will be.
Sometimes, like the gentlest breeze,
sometimes like a city
all ablaze.
Either way, it is, and you must eat it
and drink it daily.
For this love will not rest until it
consumes you, and fills every empty
well of your being with the goodness
of life.
Photos from recent retreat
Retreatants with Fr. Robert at the Benedictine
Experience Retreat at Dallas Texas, June 2011
Oblature
Fr. Robert with Rod Hetzel, offering his Oblature, in Dallas in June 2011. Rod is a Professor of Psychology at Baylor University.
Photos Online
We want to let you know that some splendid photographs taken at oblate events are available online at a site called "Snapfish" (it is a reputable site created by Hewlett Packard). If you would like to see 'snapshots' of happy oblates (and monks!) please access ‘NCH Oblates’ with the following URL:
http://www1.snapfish.com/groups/nchoblates/cobrandOid=1000
– the site will ask you to sign in (first name, last name, email address, password, & accept terms &conditions)
– the next window will ask you to enter the ‘room code’ which is : bigsur (one word, small letters)
–at the next window you will have access to the photos.
