Spark: Learning Stability and Rootedness through a Community of Monks

Michael O’Brien joined us both for this Sunday’s service and for this week's podcast episode. I was introduced to Michael through his daughter Megan who works as Missio’s ministry Director. I asked Megan to say a few things about her Dad and this is what she said:

You can tell even before he speaks sometimes that he is crafting a very witty and very funny joke. Even if as his child you’ve heard the same joke a 100 times. My dad has a really good sense of balance when it comes to grace and accountability. He is very good at seeing multiple perspectives and at the same time acknowledging when something is hurtful or has done harm. I’m comforted because I have a father who loves the best that he can with all that he can despite circumstances that have taught him the opposite. It’s not always easy to see but With every bad, hurtful thing there is something loving and kind to be found pushing right back. My favorite thing to do with my dad is talk about the world, his work, watch movies, and debate each other on different topics (which always ends in a hug).

Michael earned a Government/Theology degree from the University of Notre Dame, attended law school at the University of Utah, and is a Catholic writer and lawyer who lives here in Salt Lake City.  After reading his book, Monastery Mornings, it made sense to me to have him along for a conversation about stability and rootedness.

In his early adolescence he found an unlikely family in the company of monks at Holy Trinity Abbey, in the mountains of Huntsville, Utah. Struggling with his parents' recent divorce, this community of people helped him to develop the practices of stability and rootedness in a time of instability in his life. The monks he encountered and with whom he developed deep friendship take a vow of stability:

“By our vows of stability, we promise to commit ourselves for life to one community of brothers or sisters with whom we will work out our salvation in faith, hope, and love. Resisting all temptation to escape the truth about ourselves by restless movement from one place to the next, we gradually entrust ourselves to God’s mercy experienced in the company of brothers or sisters who know us and accept us as we are.” Monastery Mornings

This vow and commitment translated into a lived experience for Micheal as he enjoyed the company and consistency of community with monks. He also talks in the podcast and book about the sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic church and how that has been so destabilizing. He reveals to us the complexity of what stability is, where we find it and how we can seek rootedness in the midst of all of this.

I think this practice is especially pertinent in a time where we’ve all been through quite a bit of anxiety and instability. Michaels wisdom, insight and story spark ideas for how we can cultivate practices toward stability and rootedness.