Categories: uncategorized
Date: 22 August 2004 14:19:37
Check this out! Randomly reading a page in the middle of this study guide I found lying around, Service and Secrecy, I found:
In the discipline of secrecy, we do not tell, hint or cause our good deeds to be known. This quiets our desire for admiration or even the mere attention of others.
Very interesting. I could try this. Although I couldn't blog about it 'cos that would be telling.
Then reading on I see this from one who practices the disciple. Elaine Prevallet writes...
When I was in the novitiate, in my early twenties, I decided to do one small act of kindness each day that was completely unknown to anyone. So I would keep my eyes peeled for something helpful I could do that no one would see. I wanted to be absolutely sure that I was doing it for no one but God, whom I loved with a simple and quite passionate fervour. **I made beds, or turned them down. I folded clothes, I tidied. At least one a day, and no one knew. That very infinitesimal act each day gave me enormous joy.** It gave me a kind of inner excitement to do this only for God: a secret between me and God. It kept me **alert to the small needs of others;** maybe it provided spontaneity and creativity in an otherwise highly regimented situation. (Emphasis mine.)
Right now I'm thinking of all the spontaneous, creative, small acts of kindness to meet the small needs of others that I do everyday and I'd really like to list them here, saying, "What about ...." and, "What about ..." but again, that would be telling. Obviously I've got a long way to go before I receive enormous joy from making the bed (which I hardly ever do anyway.) Although once I did make ... then again, never mind.
Make sure you check out the Elaine Prevallet link.
Here's a more serious one.