Dominicans in The Farm Workshop

I have been doing some reading on Dominican spirituality, for an essay I am writing, ‘what unites and what divides Aquinas and Eckhart?’  It has been a fascinating read and exploration.

Essay planing on the wall and work desk in the making. 

One of the changes I have made to my reading and writing was to do some of it in The Farm Workshop we are making. At home I had my dedicated study in the house or the use of the library at Queens or the library and studies at Sarum in Salisbury. I have studied two ends of the spectrum, in a century’s old academic institution in Salisbury and a leaking farm workshop in South Africa, both have strengths and weakness. The privilege of walking a few feet to a shelf in the library for the book I would like to use, is now understood as even more of a privilege than before. Yes The Farm Workshop roof leaks when it rains but I have big white walls to work on. In the workshop space I have been reminded the Dominicans were an order of preachers called to bring Good News to others, they were not meant for a safe monastic setting.

Must be someone praying

Dominicans were called to be with people who are asking questions seeking answers in ordinary places with ordinary people. Reading Eckhart and Aquinas in the farm workshop with monkeys on the roof tools and practical jobs on the benches has done a number of things for me. Firstly if I am open to God speaking to me he will whisper into my life anywhere I am, even in the The Farm Workshop. No matter how difficult and high faulting theological studies get and Eckhart for me is a big challenge. I am called to make the connections with the ordinary world, The Farm Workshop World.  Finally for today Ignatius said (not a Dominican) a priest could not study theology at university unless he served the poor people as well as study. He believed you must smell like the sheep I think Ignatius might have at home in The Farm Workshop. 

On reflection I am not sure Aquinas would have been contented in the workshop but I think Eckhart would have made some great connections and discoveries within The Farm Workshop.

workshop at the beginning of work

 To be full of things is to be empty of God; to be empty of things is to be full  of God. 

Meister Eckhart     

PS Big Thanks to all who have helped so far. if anyone would like to make a donation towards

 The Workshop or tools just contact me.