Why did I become a Benedictine Oblate?
Posted on | October 17, 2009
by | Kim, Obl.O.S.B
I have been pondering Marigold’s question(s), which I think could be boiled down to one: Why be an Oblate?
I have spent some time reflecting and thinking, and praying about this question. I still don’t have an answer. I could give you a list of little reasons, such as community; since nothing in the matters of Faith happens in a vacuum. Or go back to structure and discipline, which is something that has helped me weather my most recent dry spell (thanks be to God, it is ending) – to pray when God appears to be on vacation and left the answering machine off.
I am an Oblate, as opposed to a Secular Carmelite or a Secular Franciscan, or even a Third Order Dominican because the Good Lord wants me to be an Oblate. That is why I am an Oblate. As I live my Oblate life, I find that it is not easy. I am an introvert – a melancholic – and being around people is NOT something high on my priority list. St. Benedict calls us to hospitality. Does this mean I’m a bad Benedictine, or I can skip that part of Benedictine life? Nope – it simply means I need to find (with God’s help) how to be hospitable in a way that does not cause me to need a Valium drip. The command to not let the sun go down on your anger in Sacred Scripture and reiterated by St. Benedict means that when people get me all riled up, that I need to forgive them and NOT hold grudges. Everyone who knows me well knows that I am all about grudges and retaliation, and so to NOT be full of grudges or want to “get back” at people knows what a struggle it is. Thank God He is helping me, and now the thoughts of “this would be the PERFECT way to put Sally in her place” are simply fleeting thoughts, and don’t turn into plans.
Being a Benedictine Oblate means that I have more expected of me from the Good Lord. It’s not a series of checklists and boring rules that restrict what I can and cannot do; rather it sets me free to develop a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. Of course you can have one without being an Oblate or a Secular Franciscan, but for me; this is how He has called me.
I see Benedictine spirituality as a giant love letter from God, addressed to me; calling me into a deeper union with him, through my Greg, through Elise, through Little One, through the people around me, through the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, and so on. This is my Song of Songs, so to speak. I am madly in love with God, and this is how we like to spend time together, this is how we grow closer to one another, if that makes ANY lick of sense.
I really wish I had a more concrete answer for you, Marigold; but I’m afraid this is the best I can do. It’s kind of like asking “why did you marry Greg” – he’s attractive, funny, a good worker … but there is so much more than that, it’s so much deeper. Why should someone be an Oblate? If they feel they are called to God in this way, the Benedictine way; that is why someone should be an Oblate. If they read St. Benedict’s Holy Rule and instead of seeing it as a “rulebook” and “constricting” (or even irrelevant!) but rather as a giant love letter recorded way back in the day just for YOU, then perhaps maybe God is trying to have you come closer to Him through the Benedictine way of life.
erdit
Comments were accidentally closed (thanks Marigold for the alert), sorry about that!
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2 Responses to “Why did I become a Benedictine Oblate?”
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Associations
September 14th, 2011 @ 10:54 pm
Thank you for the beautiful explanation, as I’m putting serious thought into becoming one, researching through many websites most of this week after much prayer.
September 18th, 2011 @ 10:26 am
Sounds wonderful, Linda. You will be in my prayers!