So, here I am in my new seminary digs! For a Franciscan with a vow of simplicity, this is a little bit of heaven. You can’t have a lot of “stuff” in a 400 sq. ft. apartment and I welcomed the forced decluttering of my life. A friend drove out with me and helped unload the first load of “stuff” and set up my little abode. Colin came a few days later with another load and we’ve made our nest here in Austin and love it. The pool is a blessing in this 100+ heat! It’s also the place to meet the new students moving in and we’ve already made friendships that I think will last for years.
It’s not just the stuff, though. There’s a decluttering going on physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am eating cleaner and simpler and it feels good. That with the simplifying of what I give energy to has given me new energy and more restful sleep. I’ve taken this in-between time to just be and to be more mindful of eating, sleeping, living, and praying.
Mentally, I simplify what I give my brain to, Years of passage meditation has taught me to not allow my mind to reign supreme in directing my thoughts. I can nip that troublesome fearful, fretting brain of mine in the bud when I have to. Yeah, it takes daily discipline, but it’s worth it.
Spiritually, re-setting my daily practices of meditation, scripture, prayer, and writing simplifies my soul. There’s a lot of junk that can pull my heart and soul off line and douse my hope with worry about this world, but daily spiritual practices remind me (and I need reminding daily) that I am an eternal being, as we all are, and no one and no thing can steal an eternal life. Things may be hard for a while, and maybe even the whole time I’m here on earth, but my hope springs eternal. I will labor diligently to keep that hope alive even if I’m the last one standing.
I’ll update soon about my new student orientation experience next week!
Magdalena's Musings 