Anchorholding, A New Kind of Saintliness, Part Five

“Today it is not enough merely to be a saint, but we must have the saintliness demanded by the present moment, a new saintliness, itself without precedent.”[i] So pronounced Simone Veil, as she surveyed the erupting landscape of Europe in the 1930’s. Veil, certainly one of the great revolutionary philosophers of the last century, was not speaking here of some gentle idealized version of saintliness. She was speaking about the devoted day after day after day of living in the trenches of our lives while holding up the candle of illumination.

This is not always easy. In fact, on many days, it is near impossible. But it can be done if we are tender with ourselves and break our time into small increments. Things of great import so often start with the smallest of shifts. So.

Hesitate. Wait. Whatever you usually do, don’t. Stand still for only a fraction of a second before you move. Allow space and air and breath to draw towards you. Count your fingers and for each one, name who has brought you to this day. That’s gratitude.

Look around your space and imagine all the people who gave their artistry, labour, and thought that you might be able to sit here right now. That’s connection.

Name one small thing you can resist this very moment to clear space for your own mind to expand past whatever obsession or addiction holds you in its grip. Resistance is a spiritual discipline. Just don’t do that one thing. Don’t.

Well done there.

Now. What opportunity is before you this very moment that will allow you to open that third window and offer your most noble self to another? Go ahead, open the window, and offer whatever you can offer without thought of reciprocity.

Now you have a calling. Now you are an anchoress. Now your life’s work begins.

This is the new kind of saintliness.

[i] Simone Veil, Waiting for God, 99.