The Earthy Monk Manifesto

The Earthy Monk Manifesto

An earthy monk is grateful, generous, radical (living for and in the Roots), living a Velveteen Rabbit-like faith that is real and grounded in God.

Molded by God’s tender loving hand, an earthy monk, sees and seeks the Divine Hand in all things, in all ways…knowing that everything is Holy – from the mundane to the profane, all is Sacred when seen through the eyes of God’s tender mercies.

An earthy monk keeps close to their heart the mandate from the Creator, that we mortals have been told what to do and how to be: to do justice, to love mercy & kindness and to walk humbly with God (ref. Micah 6:8).  This is the foundation for the Earthy Monk Manifesto.

Earthy monks know what all mystics know – that all are one and all are from and will return to the One – the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Earthy monks know that the Truth is the Truth regardless of its source: whether the truth comes from the Vatican, a monastery, a Revival, a bar stool, the Koran or the Talmud, we know we are more connected that not, more alike than not, more one than not.

So, if you are an Earthy Monk…

Love God & love all people, love the Earth, touch a tree, hold a flower, stare at the stars until your head spins, love your enemies, pray often, and even more than that.

Really do stop and smell the roses, for they are God’s favorite, specially made.

Do yourself a favor by doing someone else one!

Be a conduit for God’s amazing and relentless grace and tenderness. Be the divine hands, the divine heart, the divine feet.

Imitate Jesus (according to the holy Gospels – read Matthew 5, 6, 7, 8, & 25 and also the entire Gospel of Luke)

Plant some seeds that you will cultivate, harvest and eat.

Get your food from a local farm, for if you think “No Farms, No Food” is a trite syllogism, see how expensive and nasty food will be when it ALL comes from a box or a can!

Adopt a rescue pet…for after a few months, the ‘pet’ will become Family…any living Being that is abandoned, then rescued, lives their lives in Pure Gratitude.

Love God. Deeply. Passionately. But not blindly.  If your love for God means you mistreat people and pets, then your love is whacked and toxic.  If your love for God is tied to some flag, country or particular ideology (be it liberal or conservative), then it’s not God’s way.  For God is Love and when you are an earthy monk, you give your life to God, then Love is the Law to be followed.

Cleanse yourself of every single image and thought you have ever had or thought or felt about God. Let it go…then let God!

Ask God to reveal the Divine Love in its purity, free from ideologies, beliefs, titles, words.  Jesus ‘ain’t’ no Democrat or a Republican, Liberal or Conservative.

Jesus is the EmBODYment of God’s Love, and God just Is…Pure Love.

So one more time: love God, love your neighbor, serve the most vulnerable, care for the widows and orphans, love the Beautiful Earth.

Celebrate life & Live gratefully.