Be a reservoir, not a canal.

"You squander and lose what is meant to be your own if, before you are totally permeated by the infusion of the Holy Spirit, you rashly proceed to pour out your unfulfilled self upon others. The person who is wise, therefore, will see his life more like a reservoir than a canal. The canal simultaneously pours out what it receives; the reservoir retains the water till it is filled, and then discharges the overflow without loss to itself. Today there are many in society who act like canals; the reservoirs are far too rare. So urgent is the charity that they want to pour it forth before they are filled. Infusion should precede the effusion. First be filled, and then control the outpouring. I cannot see myself being enriched by your wasting of your powers. For if you are mean to yourself, to whom will you be good? Help me out of your abundance, if you have it; if not, then spare yourself the trouble."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
12th century France 

Photo: Horsetooth Reservoir and ruddy cliffs, Lory State Park, CO, February 8, 2015

The radiance of the soul is clearer than mountain air because of its transcendence

"The radiance of the soul is clearer than mountain air because of its transcendence."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
12th century Cistercian monk

Photos: (Top) Aspen trees and alpenglow on Long's Peak; (Middle) Moraine Park; (Bottom) Engelmann Spruce and spires above Emerald Lake. All three photos were taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO on December 8, 2014

The virtuous soul is clearer than mountain air because of its transcendence.

 

"The radiance of the soul clothed in heaven's loveliness, graced with the jewels of consummate virtue, is clearer than mountain air because of its transcendence, more brilliant than the sun."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
12th century Cistercian monk  

Photo: Mt. Ypsilon on a windy day, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO; March 24, 2014

Love is its own merit and its own reward.

 

“Love is its own merit and its own reward. Love needs no cause, no fruit besides itself; its enjoyment is its practice. I love because I love; I love that I may love. Love is a great thing; as long as it returns to its beginning in God, goes back to its origin, turns again to its source, it will always draw afresh from it and flow freely."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
12th century Cistercian monk

Photo: Lewis Monkeyflowers growing along the Garden Wall; Glacier National Park, MT; July 31, 2013

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Because the Muse is somewhat shy, she needs our full attention given in solitude.

The creative process generally requires large blocks of solitude.  I know from experience that this is the case when I'm writing or seeking the answer to some life-question.  St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in his Sermons on the Song of Songs, informs us that one of the reasons why solitude is necessary is on account of the shyness of God. "Can you not see how shy your Love is," he asks, "that he will never come to you when others are present?"  Bernard goes on to remind us that even Jesus had to spend whole nights alone in prayer.  I find it fascinating to imagine that the Divine Muse has an element of shyness.  We so often criticize ourselves when we go through periods when our creativity seems to dry up.  What if instead we imagined that the Muse wants to reveal something especially profound to the world, but is hesitant to do so without the encouragement we offer by giving our full attention to what She is about to say?

Photo: A solitary Fremont Cottonwood leaf rests on a stout root; Horsetooth Reservoir, Larimer County, CO; October 23, 2013

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