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July 05, 2005
The God Light - Trappist Ky.
The monastery courtyard is beautiful right now. It's quiet, there's a little fog and the sky has an abundance of what photographers ironically call "God Light". Complementing the shafts of light are translucent backlit clouds. There is a faint sound of water running. It is so peaceful and inspiring that I feel like comitting an act of philosophy.
The Abbey of Gethsemani was founded in 1848 by Trappist monks from Melleray France. The monastery makes most of it's money through it's mail order and internet sales of fudge, cheese, fruitcake and other foods. There are about 60 largely anonymous monks here but Gethsemani was home to probably the world's most famous Trappist monk Father Louis better know as Thomas Merton.
"I remember Father Louis was very good at communicating with people" Brother Raphael told me. "I thought that I and some other lay brothers could learn from him. Father Louis said 'I would be happy to. I just need to take care of some business first'". Shifting in his chair Brother Raphael said "We never saw him again".
Brother Raphael was referring to Merton's untimely death in Bangkok in 1968. It was a freak accident, he was electrocuted when the wet floor he was standing on made electrical contact with a faulty fan. It is what buddhists call a "severe ripening of karma".
Brother Raphael and I had dinner in the monastery's sole speaking dining room. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of salad, barley soup, bread, pears and some of the monks own Port de Salud cheese. Looking at him it was hard to imagine him being a flight instructor during World War II. In fact looking at any of the brothers it was hard to imagine that they had lives before being monks.
Brother Raphael enlisted in the Navy to defend the United States. "I saw what was being done to the Chinese and there was no way I was going to let that happen here. I guess that's my Norman blood" he chuckled.
He then presented me with dessert, a Little Debbie Fudge Round smuggled into the monastery. It was obvious why he was so well loved by anyone who met him. Our conversation turned to his sigh of relief at not having to kill anyone during the war, something that he could hardly imagine now.
"I have learned a lot about forgiveness since then"
"Have you ever had a problem with forgiveness as a monk?"
"Well we have 70 monks here and they are all men so some shins are bound to be kicked. Generally things here are easy going. I remember when eight of my Trappist brothers were killed in Algeria in 1996.
That was very difficult for me. I had a dream that I was piloting a fully loaded and armed Corsair and I just went shooting at these men who killed the brothers. Then I thought about how crazy that idea was. I prayed for days and then I just turned it over to the God and 'Lord this is bigger than I am and I need help right now'".
He smiled and said "I was able to forgive. God helps us to cope with our human weakness. Giving forgiveness is most important when it's the hardest to do it".
With that he smiled and let some of his own god light slip.
Posted by Julian Cook at July 5, 2005 09:40 AM
Posted by: Kerri at July 8, 2005 10:29 AM
JC, One of the first adult books my dad gave me was Thomas Merton's "Guilty Bystander" essays. I was 11 yrs. old. I've never quit reading Merton and admire the philosophy and quiet action. You are indeed fortunate to have spent time with the monks. Great good fortune to you. PO
Posted by: PeatyO at July 8, 2005 02:06 PM
Hola Julian!! It's so nice to following you in your journey...did you forget your teeth brush :-) ? You are in my thoughts, big kiss,
Maria Eugenia.
Posted by: Maria Eugenia Silva at July 8, 2005 06:56 PM
julian, our woxy.com bretherin must unite. good luck on your inspirational journey. by time you're done i'll be a sophomore in college. that's kind of crazy. try to catch a show in the UK if the opportunity arises...ha. too bad you wont be able to stream very often. but be safe.
Posted by: zach b at July 9, 2005 10:24 PM
I met you at the Abbey of Gethsemane. You were interviewing the priest and I interrupted in order to get some info on the abbey. I talked with you a few minutes and you told me what you were up to. This is going to be quite an endeavor. I want to encourage you to stick with it, I'm sure you'll have some tough days ahead and you'll need the encouragment of others.
I plan to visit your web site occasionally to see how your doing.
Gary P.
Nashville, Tn.
Posted by: Gary P. at July 11, 2005 12:34 PM
Thanks Peat, I'll have to get that one when I can. I know a whole lot more about Merton now after visiting Gethsemani. It's an amazing place really.
Posted by: Julian Cook at July 11, 2005 05:37 PM
Gary, it was very nice meeting you. That was Bro Raphael that I was interviewing. He is a terrific man. Like you, I am not Catholicm, but I can't recommend a couple of days at Gethsemani highly enough. I hope you return to enjoy that experience as I did.
Posted by: Julian Cook at July 11, 2005 05:39 PM
Hi Bub. Your right. Mom said you are oh so GROUNDED. How's the trip going? Great I hope. Better be avoiding this rain. Remember to call me on your journey every once in a while.
Love ya so much
Sis
I too am very proud of you.
Posted by: Sis at July 11, 2005 11:51 PM
Julian,
So great to see how many people are emailing you. You have the blessings of the monks and many others, too. Your story is well told, and certainly makes us want to know more. In fact, because of you Darci and I are going to take another trip to beautiful western Kentucky this coming weekend (July 23-24) and visit the monks at Gethsemani and then the nearby Jim Beam distillery. Of course we'll take along Gabe, so we can walk off some of that whiskey and cheese at the absolutely gorgeous Bernheim Arboretum. We'll be thinking of you.
Steven
Posted by: Steven Newman at July 17, 2005 06:17 PM
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