The where-with-all

Springtime is a beautiful time in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the City of Richmond, and most certainly, in the gardens at Richmond Hill. 

Springtime means awakening to new life. From the dead leaves of winter, new possibilities emerge. Look around the garden. New growth appears everywhere you look. The goldfish frolic in the pond, fine and frisky. The lily pads are spreading there, and the lotus has shown the first of its many blooms.

Springtime is also discernment time at Richmond Hill. As monasteries go, we are unique in that no one here makes this place a permanent residence. Folks answer a call and come into this residential community one of two ways: either a) the Urban Service Corps, which is a one-year commitment to service, with an option to renew for an additional year, — or — b) professional residency, which is a 3-to-5 year commitment wrapped around a specific job description. This call also carries the option and possibility for the renewal of term.

Either way, every spring, in late April and early May, each resident here at Richmond Hill enters a discernment process — sitting, talking and praying with a panel made up of members of Council and other residents. This is a time to look at the year past and look to what’s ahead, examining one’s life in relation to what we feel God is calling each of us to do.

What a privilege it is to take this time to check in, examine and reflect on what is going on in life.

The day following my discernment, as I sat in chapel listening to the sermon, I glanced down and noticed a neighbor’s toe, well manicured with plum nail polish. As I gazed at this snapshot of dress, ankle, foot and sandal, Vermeer’s painting of the Girl with a Pearl Earing came to mind. And I realized the loving attention to detail, the thoughtfulness and intentionality that went into making this ensemble so beautifully put together.

In that moment I caught a glimpse of what it is to care, deeply, right down to your toes. “Ahh,” I thought, “thank you, Lord, for giving us the where-with-all to play in this space called Life.”

Can I dare to care in this way? What will it take for me to say, “I do?”

Richard Rumble
May 2015

Placing a call

Richmond Hill is a special place where a lot of folks pass through for lots of different reasons. Some come for quiet reflection, some for wonderful worship. Some come thirsty for knowledge. Others come simply to be fed, either at the altar or in the refectory, and maybe enjoy some fellowship. Whatever your particular need, this place holds us all.

Richmond Hill holds many special places. The chapel is one such special place here. In addition to praying there for the City three times a day, the community comes together there for a Eucharist every Monday evening. During his sermon Monday night not long ago, Bob Hetherington commented on the particular importance of maintaining balance among one’s spiritual practices: personal, corporate, and, your work in the larger world.

Making oneself available to listen to what God might be saying to you is important work. There are many ways to do this work, but I think it really is a question of how engaged are you in hospitality of the heart? Open eyes and ears help open the heart to receive the Lord when he calls on us.

The open heart allows our mind to open — open up to possibilities of engaging our selves in our surroundings. So far, so good. As long as we are open and receptive to the prompts and nudges the Spirit provides, we’re all done here, right? Not exactly. Openness and receptivity is great. But if that’s all we do, it’s a little like Roger Federer swinging at a tennis ball, then coming to a screeching halt just as the ball touches the strings of his racquet. Of course he doesn’t do that. He follows through his stroke, usually with stunning results.

Whatever we see, hear, or feel as a spiritual prompt, we need to follow through. And our follow-through ought to be grounded. This requires solid footwork and a place to stand. You want to understand your calling, your vocation? Look at where your feet are pointing.

Location is a huge part of vocation. Does location inform vocation? Yes. How? Responding to the call involves posture. Where are you? What are you doing? Sitting? Standing? Attentive? Are you running to it? Or, running away?

As you begin to heed your call, pay attention to where you are. You might be strategically placed to build a little bit of God’s kingdom right here, right now.

Are you willing? That’s a good place to be.

Richard Rumble

April 2015

Advent shuffle

Well, we’ve come to it once again. My favorite time, my favorite place. It’s that “not yet there, but getting close” time. What is the meaning of Advent? Ad venire, Latin: to come toward. Toward what, and toward whom, is the real question.

Advent is the dawning of a new year. It’s the set-up narrative, preparing us for the birth of our Lord. It’s a New Year’s party. It’s a new life party. And it’s a birthday party. 

What gift do you give to a Child? Or, for that matter, to the One who has everything? Two years ago, while preparing for an Advent program I do, a song came to me. It was a gift. I call it Walking the Kingdom Walk:

Gone to Bethlehem, looking for a King
Not sure what I would find
Took a long journey with a lot of steps
Trying to ease my troubled mind

Was I coming?  Was I going?
I don't know — it felt good to be on the road
Somewhere on the way my perspective changed
You eased my heavy load

Fear was driving me, I was losing my world —
Disconnected and cut off
Getting kinda lonely out on my own
Walking the Kingdom walk

Was I coming?  Was I going?
I don't know — maybe You'll show me a sign?
Lord, I need a glimpse of You today —
And I know things’ll work out fine

Showed up at the stable, brought forth my gift
Set it right before the Child
He looked at me, His eyes so bright
Lord, how we did smile!

Was I giving?  Or receiving?
I don't know — it felt right to be right there
Somehow out there on my way back home
I found an answer to my prayer

Was I giving?  Or, receiving?
It's both, you see, that can make your life so free
On the way back home I came to find my self,
Thanking God for His gift called me.

Richard Rumble
December 2014