Our Lenten Habit

'Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel  of peace.
In addition to this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.'

Ephesians 6:10-17



Painting: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

The Armored Pajamas

It happened just as I was preparing to tumble into bed.  Making yet another resolution to begin a more disciplined, ordered prayer life starting right away - like, in the morning - I was hit with a cold shot of Reality. 

I will never begin a disciplined prayer life if I set my sights on doing it "in the morning." 

If I could put words to what I felt, they would be:  "so, what's wrong with right now?"  Why wait?  Whatever am I waiting FOR?   Rather than rattling off a few hit-or-miss night prayers and then waking several hours later to a vague memory of "that resolution I made last night," I can settle in and talk with God for a few minutes right now.  After all, as Right Nows go, this is a perfectly good one.  I'm the only one in the house still up, the rooms around are quiet, and the most important bedtime ritual I can perform is to climb into my armor. 

That habit I was constructing last week:  I think it's about time I start truly wearing it.  But I won't ever do so (I know this about myself) if I keep planning the "clothing ceremony" for tomorrow.  

I hope to share here - between regular prayer times -  how the routine is going.

For now, however, I am going to climb into my armored PJs and give my night to Our Lord. 

"You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground.   Stand fast, with the truth as the belt around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear.  In all circumstances, hold  faith up before you as your shield, it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, the word of God."  (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Painting: George William Joy, Joan of arc
 
Click this line to comment in 'The Parlor'
 

A Habit of Armor

Several times in recent months, we have talked about habits.  What is the habit of a cloistered heart, we've asked ourselves.  What are its pieces, how are we clothed in it, how does it affect us, is it visible to others?

We've said that habits (in our case) are actions acquired, over time, with repetition.  Our habits are made up of virtues: "pieces" that we don't just throw on over our old vices - we must cooperate with God to get rid of bad habits so the growing virtues will fit.  

Recently I realized that, in addition to virtues large and small, there are additional parts of our habit which we have not yet described. We need these pieces desperately; in fact, we cannot truly be "cloistered" without them. 

There is a reason for this need.  

"Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.  Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above.  You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground."  (Ephesians 6:2-13)

"Stand fast, with the 
truth as the belt around your waist, 
justice as your breastplate, and 
zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear.  
In all circumstances, hold 
faith up before you as your shield,
it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one.  Take the
helmet of salvation and the
sword of the spirit, the word of God."  (Ephesians 6:14-17)

Thus clad, we can go forward to encounter the world.

(painting: August Wilhelm Musk im Kloster, now in US public domain)


Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org