Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 4 Spiritual Teachings – The Tools of Good Works

The “tools of good works” are those things that everyone is supposed to be doing, each and every day. In other words, the monastery, as a community, is not just a place where you come and sit but it involves doing things; and these things are called “good works.” Modern Christians often do too much for we are always on the move and rarely rest. Modern culture values busyness and productivity. But this is not the right kind of “doing” because “doing” is less about busyness and more about holiness of life. Leaders are doers by nature, and their ability and willingness to “do” is often the reason they are chosen as leaders. But even leaders need to slow down and do a different kind of thing: good works. Communities may be places of feverish activity but this pace can only be maintained with periods of slowing down, sustaining the inner life as well as the outer body.

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