in reading about the fathers lives, it is hard to ignore their asceticism. i find it hard to overlook my soul's desire to fit discipline into my busy life. as i have begun to make my rounds around prayer knots/beads i have already begun to experience some of the mystery/clarity that comes from trying to center my world around the Divine. also experiencing the Spirit in fresh ways through scripture and other supplementary readings/liturgies.

in the days preceding and the first few days here, i slipped out of a routine i had been recently acquainted with. i can try and blame this on lack of time or sleep, none the less, prayer and reading seemed to become less. with this i truly felt a substantial change in my heart. where was IT? silenced by my little world?  yesterday i really began to experience the divide i had created.

by the grace of our LORD, i locked myself in an empty room and began 'the life of antony' by athanasius. antony's asceticism compelled me to make time always for prayer and reading, and also to pay careful attention to whats in the heart, to live within the heart always being attentive to what dwells there, and to be cautious to keep darkness far from that sanctuary.

how easy to stumble on the subtleties of the crafty one.
grant us strength o  G-D to follow You with discipline.
the harvest is now, empower us to work, for our rest is to come.
may we lie awake, arms stretched upward awaiting Your return.
with every breath comes a new start.
all praise to our Creator, Protector, and Sustainer.

for the past few days i have been trying to keep my eyes on the ground when walking through cusco. for a number of reasons really: so as not to alert one of the many peddlers of my presence, to ignore the immodesty  that so easily begs for a brother to stumble, to guard my heart from the ever longing desire to consume.

when i do look up, however, i can't help but notice a lot of the beautiful subtleties of this city.

getting away from the city on a hike, the elderly women with the leather skin, sitting on their balconies or benches, who have learned the joy of silence, and their faces quickly display this.
the beautifully ornate cathedrals filled with the south american iconography which i have not yet grown to appreciate.
or the smell of a wonderfully cooked meal, with families, smiles all around.
i can only hope that these subtleties will continue to make themselves known in the next six months.
may the SPIRIT continue to decide when to look up, or down

grace in new forms

new altitude brings deep breaths
deep inhale: LORD, JESUS CHRIST, SON of G-D
deep exhale: have mercy on me a sinner

new language brings closed mouth
gentle smile
hands wanting to point upward
yet, they find themselves pointing at menus and down streets

here we go again

this is my attempt to keep friends and family updated on my recent move to peru
if all goes according to plan my posts will be in english.

much Peace your way