I'm Not Surprised

We like humor at the hermitage.  A joke that has been told here at the hermitage by multiple people countless times for years, including this month: 

At this one particular monastery which is especially rigorous with its practice of the discipline of silence, the new admittees to the monastery are allowed to speak two words each year.  At the end of this one young monk's first year, he goes to meet with the Prior, the head of the monastery.  

The Prior, welcoming the young monk's words, says, "Yes, my son."  

The young monk says, "Bed hard."  

The prior replies, "Yes, my son, thank you.  You may go."  

At the end of the young monk's second year, he sits down to meet with the Prior.  

The Prior greets him, "Yes, my son."  

The young monk notes, "Food cold."  

The prior responds, "Yes, my son, thank you.  You may go."  

At the end of the young monk's third year, he meets with the Prior.  

"I'm leaving," the young monk announces.  

The Prior retorts, "I'm not surprised!  You've been doing nothing but complaining the last three years!"  

Enjoy The Strawberries

This afternoon I was walking on the sidewalk behind the church here at the hermitage.  I was walking to look for James, the other man in formation here at the hermitage.  We share duties in the Sacristy, sometimes helping to set up for Mass.  I wanted to talk with him about which of us was going to set up for Mass, which was combined with Vespers today.  I was absorbed in these thoughts as I walked along.  

As I went where I thought James might be, Edson, who is one of our cooks, excitedly asked me if I had eaten any strawberries.  I didn't know what he meant.  I asked him.  He explained that in one of the garden plots right behind the church, little strawberries were growing.  He showed me; I saw that each of them was only a quarter of the size of my smallest fingernail.  I picked one and ate it; it was delicious.  

We can be going along wrapped up in our own little world.  Meanwhile, God is gently reaching toward us with presents of delectable delicacies.  If we look carefully, we find God showing us love in what is right next to us.  We pass up the nourishment God wants to give us.  Since God loves us, God doesn't force anything on us, even what is good for us.  God patiently waits for us with love.  When we're ready, we find God's love.