Author: hermitageofpeace

The Hermit of Peace following the Rule of St. Benedict.

Why I Stay!

“Christianity has not be tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”

Gilbert K. Chesterton

On 21 May 2019 I celebrate 25 years of Ordained Life and to commemorate this important milestone in my life I sit here reviewing key points of my journey that has led me to the Hermitage of Peace.

However there is a question why I stay with a corrupt political structure? My experience as a Minister has revealed to me leaders who are not Christ Followers in their actions. I have experience the evil of Clericalism, that is, the Minister is more important than those whom he serves. The answer is I am a believer and needed to use my abilities to create a blueprint that may be used by people who love to bring Heaven to Earth; the desire of Jesus in His Prayer. For those who care to entertain what I call a Better Way of following Gospel Truth in Action, I offer my experiences in Building the Kingdom of God In concrete ways.

Bible and Basketball Ministry:

In my assignment to a Church in New York City. I saw that the Youth Organization’s Basketball Program needed help. The majority of these young men were in danger of failure. The Housing Development was not an easy place to survive for its young men. In using Sacred Scriptures, I tried to give these individuals an alternative to the negativity that is prevalent in poverty. I wanted to assist these young people and their families to improve their lives. To get these young men into Bible Study I used their desire to play basketball. For them to use the School Gym they had to come to Bible Study. I am a teacher, hence I was able to involve these young people in discussions of their lives and relate it to God’s plan for them.

The use of the gym was more than just basketball. The young ladies of the community and volunteer parents from the Church were present and so it was a family experience. Also a former student teacher from the school where I was the Assistant Chairperson in Social Studies and his fiancé coordinated the evenings in the gym. The Eternal One provided two Certified Teachers working with the young men and women and the other volunteers without charge.

Financing this ministry was challenging. I used my salary and my savings. I did not ask anyone for financial help and the Church Office did not fund this program other than providing the physical spaces needed for the program. I was struggling. I shared this with a friend and she offered me a job as an instructor of Psychology at a Community College. I went back to teaching, teaching on my days off from my Church obligations. I taught at the college for five years. The salary was used to fund the Program. I have a very good education and I was called to use it to save lives. My concept is to build a Spiritual Cathedral wherever I am. I give everything I have in Total Trust that the Eternal One will provide.

The Manager of the Housing Development was informed about the ministry and wanted to help. I was hired as a consultant for the youth in the Housing Development. Because of all of these opportunities, we were fully financed.

This special experience had to come to an end because my time at the Church came to end. However, it left a mark on the lives of many. One young man came up to me at a Subway Station in Queens and asked me was I the Minister who serve him and his friends with Bible Study and Basketball. I said yes. He thanked me, his experience in our Program inspired him to do the same thing as a Baptist Minister.

One of the volunteer parents of the Program (a bank Vice President) told me recently that when she is walking home from the Subway Station to her apartment, she feels protected because those she encounters remember that she made a difference in their lives.

We Can All Make A Difference!

Today, as I return from the Monastery where I am Prior, I saw a former student I taught 40 years ago. Now he has white hair. He was picking up things in my neighborhood in Queens, N. Y. This is common practice because some people make their living picking up cans and bottles for the deposit money that they provide. However, this man was picking up garbage. Why?

I observed this man carefully, though he did not see me. I realized that he was cleaning the street. People just throw things on the ground, not caring about the environment. Why did my former student do this work? Did he not know that he will only make a small dent in changing the world?

My former student taught me a very important lesson. I can talk about how people treat the Earth, but my words are just that, words. He is making a difference. For those who want to see, he is speaking powerfully. I was humbled and taught by my former student. I was told that we all can make a difference and I am sharing this lesson with you. Let us save our home.

Peace.