Sunday, April 1, 2012

TOWARD THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE

After Easter Sunday, I will be joining a contemplative community of Anglican Carmelite nuns.  I feel the call to a quiet life, and what could be quieter than silence?  Grandpère understands, and though he may feel bereft for a while, he'll get over it.  He and my children and grandchildren can think of all the good times we had together and remember me as I was before I became really, really, really old.

The question of whether I will continue with my blog is, as yet, unsettled.  Striking the keys on the keyboard makes a noise but only a small noise, and the matter is now under negotiation with the Mother Superior.  If the blog must go, then go it must, for I will be bound by a vow of obedience.  However, take courage!  As I understand it, you, my online friends and readers, will have access to my six years of blog posts forever and ever, amen, and you can click over whenever you like for a virtual visit .

Peace.
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47 comments:

  1. it's margaretApril 1, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    I only lasted three weeks testing my vocation in a nunnery.... The nuns had a good laugh --I had a good laugh --and we all agreed it was a misplaced vocation.

    Good luck Grandmere!

    As to the blog.... <<>> oh dear....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 11:07 AM

      Hey, Margaret, it's me! Mimi and I are talking about you at the end of the comments! ;-)

      Delete
  2. LapinbizarreApril 1, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. MellieApril 1, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    april fools!

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  4. merryApril 1, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    Good April Fool's joke!!

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  5. Murdoch MatthewApril 1, 2012 at 10:00 AM

    I hate April Fools Day, and having to weigh every public utterance for whether or not it's a joke (see Pluralist today). However, one must weigh news stories in this manner all the time -- truthiness is rampant, analysis is skewed.

    "Obedience" -- to a spiritual director or pope -- does bypass the difficulty in dealing with God's ambiguous signals. Not sure there are spiritual heights to be climbed (things to do, to be sure); I'm thinking that the thing to do is just be.

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  6. NijApril 1, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    Oh gee, did u check with Diana about this? And Grandpere UNDERSTANDS? Hmmmm! Is today 4/1 by any chance? Happy Passion Sunday to all...........from a really senior citizen.......
    nij
    PS That would really leave us sad, Grandmere

    ReplyDelete
  7. NijApril 1, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    Oh gee, did u check with Diana about this? And Grandpere UNDERSTANDS? Hmmmm! Is today 4/1 by any chance? Happy Passion Sunday to all...........from a really senior citizen.......
    nij
    PS That would really leave us sad, Grandmere

    ReplyDelete
  8. LeonardApril 1, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    I believed you...I´m off to have my head examined.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. June ButlerApril 1, 2012 at 5:15 PM

      Yes, indeed, Len, you should see a professional very soon.

      Delete
  9. Russ ManleyApril 1, 2012 at 11:30 AM

    Oh I get it . . . wishful thinking, hahaha.

    Good one, Mimi.

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  10. UKViewerApril 1, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    I didn't know that there were any Anglican Carmalite's, there web site reads only RC one. Than I realised .....

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    Replies
    1. liturgyApril 1, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      Sorry, UKViewer, incorrect.
      The website for the Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa is
      http://www.ecst.ang-md.org/index.html

      Blessings

      Delete
    2. June ButlerApril 1, 2012 at 2:53 PM

      Thanks, Bosco.

      Delete
    3. susan s.April 1, 2012 at 7:03 PM

      Of course, Mimi is joining the Caramelites! ;-)

      Delete
    4. June ButlerApril 1, 2012 at 9:42 PM

      Of course!

      Delete
  11. Frank D. MyersApril 1, 2012 at 12:51 PM

    Not bad! Rachel Held Evans edged you a little, I think, but only perhaps in the eyes of someone who has an affection for recovering evangelicals.

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  12. Diane M. RothApril 1, 2012 at 12:59 PM

    good luck! Happy April Fools Day!

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  13. whiteycatApril 1, 2012 at 1:10 PM

    It was very upsetting to read this until I realized it was April 1st.

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  14. June ButlerApril 1, 2012 at 1:38 PM

    Just think: I won't have to talk any more; I won't have to listen (except to Mother Superior); I won't have to think; I won't have to decide what to wear. What's not to like?

    I'll add that at certain times, the idea plays a small part in my fantasy life....

    ReplyDelete
  15. liturgyApril 1, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    Just as some struggle that my NZ news appears to many to be a day ahead - so there was a momentary pause here (pre-coffee) before I realised, of course, you are a day behind ;-)

    Do please keep up the blog at the Carmel.

    Blessings

    Bosco

    ReplyDelete
  16. June ButlerApril 1, 2012 at 2:51 PM

    Bosco, as you may have noted, I stole the picture from Liturgy. A crop here, and a crop there, and voilà!

    After you gave us the astounding news of the pope and Rowan approving virtual sacraments, and Pluralist announced that he's to be made a bishop on the fast track, I thought it only fair to share my rather surprising news.

    About the blog, it's in the hands of Mother Superior, but I would not take it amiss if you put in a word....

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  17. Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGApril 1, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    Mimi, you are far too valuable to the world to wall yourself off even on April Fools Day. God bless, and keep smiling!

    ReplyDelete
  18. CounterlightApril 1, 2012 at 4:08 PM

    I'm loudly howling with laughter. Great April Fool (this is an April fool, right?).

    ReplyDelete
  19. motherameliaApril 1, 2012 at 4:27 PM

    At first I wondered what brought on such an un-Grandmere proposal, then I laughed.

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  20. BonnieApril 1, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    THE triumphalist a nun? Probably not. OTOH...

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  21. June ButlerApril 1, 2012 at 4:54 PM

    Aaahh, I don't know what to say. I'm already moving into silence mode.

    Watch out! I shall pray the covenant away in my quiet time.

    ReplyDelete
  22. BonnieApril 1, 2012 at 9:35 PM

    I think your friend, Bosco, has a plan which also allows silence. He has a petition going to name the next ABC. Nominating a women who will absolutely have the very good sense to make the convenant go far, far away.

    I think your most wonderful gift is in making us laugh our heads off. How will we make our way without that. Oh, cruel fate.

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownApril 1, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    He, he, he.... ;-)

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  24. JimBApril 2, 2012 at 3:02 PM

    Some years, this is one, I think that March 31 should be followed by either March 32 or April 2.

    Until about half way through the post, you actually had me saying "WHAT?"

    FWIW
    jimB

    ReplyDelete
  25. June ButlerApril 2, 2012 at 3:15 PM

    Oh Jim! I'm howling with laughter that you were taken in. Still, to fool people, at least for a while, is actually the point of April Fools stories.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Elizabeth KaetonApril 2, 2012 at 6:56 PM

    I'm a bit late but I looked at that headline and thought "There's no fool like an old fool on April Fool's Day".

    Takes one to know one, Mimi.

    ReplyDelete
  27. June ButlerApril 2, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    Yes, indeed, Elizabeth. I can't quite see you as a Carmelite, either.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Mary ClaraApril 2, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    It was the part about 'obedience' that gave away the game! We know you better than that . . .

    I think the Caramelite Order is one we should all be looking into.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 1:15 AM

      Yes, Mary Clara! The Caramelite order is the sweetest one. Their icon is the Plain Caramel Apple. Get in the habit of praying thru the apple!

      Delete
    2. June ButlerApril 3, 2012 at 8:57 AM

      Let's form our own virtual Carmelite Order, with our own rules....

      Delete
    3. June ButlerApril 3, 2012 at 10:53 AM

      Mary Clara, I, too, thought the obedience part was a dead giveaway.

      Delete
  29. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 10:05 AM

    Only if it's spelled with 2 'A's, Mimi! Otherwise, we would have to do away with the virtual caramel apples, the only kind I would allow myself! ;-)

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    Replies
    1. June ButlerApril 3, 2012 at 10:33 AM

      Since our virtual community will be organized in a democratic fashion, your suggestion will be given due consideration, susan s.

      Delete
    2. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 10:39 AM

      Democracy is such a hard task master, Mimi!

      Delete
    3. June ButlerApril 3, 2012 at 10:41 AM

      susan s., I know. It would be so much easier for you, if we just went ahead and declared you Mother Superior.

      Delete
  30. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 10:50 AM

    I was only Sister Margaretta, the oft quoted nun, in the local production of 'The Sound of Music." I'm not sure I'm qualified to be Mother Superior.

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    Replies
    1. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 10:56 AM

      If we turn out to be the only members of this order, I will bow to your superior judgement. You probably look better in a wimple than I do anyway!

      Delete
    2. June ButlerApril 3, 2012 at 10:56 AM

      If we choose by experience, then it's margaret, with her three weeks in the convent, who would be our superior, but you would be next in line.

      Delete
    3. susan s.April 3, 2012 at 11:02 AM

      Margaret? Is that our 'Hey God, it's me!' Margaret? I'm not saying she isn't qualified, but wow, she's sure busy right now!

      Delete
  31. June ButlerApril 3, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    Yes, check out the first comment on the thread. And, it's only a virtual community....

    ReplyDelete

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