Outside the Comfort Zone

We met in San Luis Obispo, a city on California’s Central Coast. I don’t recall his name. He worked at a small used book store on the main downtown street.

He was enamored by Francis, as he was at the thought of the cloistered life.

We talked about that, and how he thought he’d be a perfect monk, that the lifestyle would suit him.

It was his best friend who dissuaded him from this endeavor. He told him he should make the world his monastery.

We also talked about Francis.

When I think of Francis of Assisi, I think of a hippie preacher. He’s often thought of as a New Ager, though, as “He preached: ‘Your God is of your flesh, He lives in your nearest neighbor, in every man.’ ” (Wikipedia)

Francis is also known for his Canticle of the Creatures, in which he calls the sun brother and the moon sister. And “around 1220, Francis celebrated Christmas by setting up the first known Nativity scene).”

Francis’s early years as the son of a wealthy business man were ones of high-spirited excess. “He was handsome, witty, gallant, and delighted in fine clothes. He spent money lavishly.” (Wikipedia)

Despite what can be thought of Francis, he stepped out of his comfort zone and into a life of poverty.

I suppose the fellow from the bookstore wanted to emulate Francis. Perhaps making the world his monastery is a way to step out of the comfort zone.