Drinking Manhattans with Monks: Wisdom for the New Year

The sounds of the bell indicate that it’s time for Compline. Venerable Brother Chewy, a chihuahua rescued by the monks, rouses me from a siesta by licking my face. Once the prayers are over, I sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Brother Martin taps me on the shoulder, interrupting my recitation of the Jesus prayer, and asks what I’d like to drink. To which I reply water. He seems surprised and tells me that the monastery has a full bar. “It’s a feast day. I’ll make you a Manhattan.”

Before bed, the monks gather in a comfortable living room to unburden their minds and chat about current events, an atmosphere akin to good friends having drinks at Grandma’s house. It’s surreal finding myself sipping cocktails with cloistered monks, given my background with new age communities and the “spiritual, not religious” crowd.

I’m shocked to discover that the brothers, just like the rest of us, are not immune to occasional emotional outbursts or meaningless distractions. Despite their monastic lifestyle, they haven’t developed the ability to float or grow angel wings.

Brother X has a habit of perusing Twitter every morning while enjoying his breakfast, where he seeks a daily dose of memes and news. (Please don’t misconstrue this as a slight of his character.Whenever I went looking for him, I usually found him in a state of adoration, lost in his devotion to God.)

How ignorant I am of spiritual realities!

This revelation allowed me to see that our human weaknesses and worldly cares do not disappear when we enter a monastery. There is no automatic transformation or magical incantation that leads to enlightenment.

If anything, our logismoi i.e. inner struggles, intensify, and we must acquire the necessary strength to endure spiritual warfare. Self-will alone is not enough to defeat the devils who try to prevent Christians from dedicating their lives to Christ. Holy strength is only possible through communing with God and maintaining a dynamic relationship with Him. The devils become enraged when someone denies themselves and takes up the cross they are given to bear, for that is ultimate victory.

Today is Brother Chewy’s birthday, and someone from church gave him a dog-friendly birthday cake and a celebratory party hat. Chewy seems to be entertained by our off-key singing of “God grant you many years.” Despite his small size, he devours the cake with the strength of a Doberman. Afterward, he rolls onto his back and falls into a food coma.

Brother Chewy is truly a wonder worker of the Lord. His carefree and affectionate nature lifts the spirits of anyone who stops to pet him or rub his belly. Abbot John Stone of the Holy Cross particularly enjoys his company and feels immense joy whenever the pup jumps on the couch to snuggle with him.

The brothers are a part of a traditional Catholic order, known as the Oblates of St. Augustine. This community is small, triune in nature, consisting of two brothers and the abbot whose waning health is his present cross.

As the Catholic church continues to evolve with the times, the Oblates remain rooted in tradition. Their theological stance is best summarized by St. Theophan the Recluse’s belief that “Christianity should always remain unchanging, and should not be influenced or guided by the current trends of the time.” In other words, Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The following day, we venture out to Tarpon Springs – a charming little city in Florida that was founded by Greek sponge divers. During our visit, we had some errands to run, but we also wanted to explore the city’s rich Greek heritage. We stopped by a Greek Island Import and Export Store where we purchased some icons for the sanctuary. It was a wonderful experience to acquire my first icon, which was sourced straight from Mt. Athos. The icon depicted the Lord’s baptism in the River Jordan and was truly a sight to behold. The intricate details and captivating colors of the icon captivated my soul and allowed for deep contemplation and reverence of the Logos made Flesh!

Our final stop was Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The brothers are respectful of their Orthodox brethren, crossing themselves and venerating the Icons in the traditional manner of the East. We met the caretaker of the church. He kindly offered to show us around. During the tour, he stopped at a wall that depicted the Lord’s baptism. He pointed out that it was a Roman-style portrait, which was different from the traditional iconography in the church. He playfully jabs Brother Martin in the side and says, “You snuck one in on us.”

Our host had a warm and welcoming demeanor, and his eyes conveyed a sense of inner peace. He shared his personal testimony of how he went from being an atheist and a partygoer to a baptized Christian of the Orthodox Church. During a visit to the Holy Land, he was deeply moved and brought to tears by the sight of the Holy Sepulchre. This experience led him to repentance.”These were holy tears, a gift from God. My heart softened and I said, ‘Okay you win.’ Let’s try livin’ on your terms, God knows it wasn’t working on mine.” After returning to the United States, he made a concerted effort to give back to his new home.

During my last night with the brothers, we sipped on the customary Manhattan and discussed theological matters. Abbot John left the discussion and went to his room, returning with a fountain pen that he gifted to me. “If you’re going to be a writer, you need a proper tool; that won’t do,” he said, motioning to my feeble Bic.

Abbot John is a gentleman’s gentleman. Had he remained in the world, I envision him in a study fit for C.S. Lewis or Chesterton, dressed in a fine suit, sorting through the paper, or reading the lives of the saints with a pipe in his mouth and some brandy on the side. We discussed William Blake and other poets until the abbot said he was ready for bed.

Before retiring for the night, I asked him about the greatest hindrance to spiritual development in today’s world. He ponders a moment before saying,

“How fearful we are to be present to one another.”

This makes me think of how the Love we are given from God is meant to be shared not hoarded. We are fearful to be present because this means we must be vulnerable and aware of our own brokenness and mortality. The truth of what really matters smacks us in the face, and most jarringly of all, it demands a response from us!

Pain, sorrow, and heartbreak abound.To overlook these realities is to crucify Christ once more. To be present means that we must go beyond the realities we have created in our heads. The Lord’s words pang our conscience because, above all, the gospel is a call for active love.

The Holy Spirit facilitates the fruits of joy, peace, and hope. No good orchard is meant to be blocked off from the public. Let us strive to cultivate the love of Christ and let it reign above all else. May this New Year be one of awareness and intentionality. Let us keep watch over our thoughts, words, and deeds, striving to build bridges rather than bare the windows of the soul.

For that is the entrance in which we welcome the Light of Life.