Stability in a Restless World

He is like a tree planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit in its season,

 and its leaf does not wither.

Psalm 1:3

In a culture that worships mobility, speed, and the "next best thing," the Benedictine vow of stability offers a radical, counter-cultural path to spiritual growth. Stability is the sacred commitment to stay—to remain with a specific community, in a specific place, and with a specific group of people, even when the initial excitement fades. The Rule of St. Benedict recognizes that we cannot be "built into a spiritual house" if we are constantly moving from one foundation to another. Like a tree being transplanted too often, a soul that never settles struggles to take deep root. By staying put, we allow the soil of our current circumstances to become the very place where God’s grace works most deeply, teaching us that the grass is not greener elsewhere; the grass is green where it is watered.

This commitment to stability transforms our relationships from consumer-driven transactions into "holy proximity." In our modern world, it is easy to "unfriend," "unfollow," or leave a community the moment friction arises. Yet, Scripture calls us to "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12). These virtues are not abstract theories; they are muscles developed through the repetitive, sometimes difficult practice of remaining. When we choose to stay through ordinary conflict and shared work—the Benedictine Ora et Labora—we discover that the very people who challenge us are often the "living stones" God uses to polish our own rough edges. It is in the staying that we learn to "bear with one another and forgive one another" as Christ forgave us.

Ultimately, spiritual stability is not about stagnation, but about focused endurance. It is the realization that "once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God" (1 Peter 2:10), and that this identity is forged over time, not in an instant. When we stop running from the discomfort of our present reality, we find that God is already there, patiently building something enduring. In the quiet rhythm of a life lived in common—shared meals, shared prayers, and shared burdens—the "one heart and mind" of the early church becomes a lived reality (Acts 4:32). By embracing stability, we stop searching for a perfect dwelling place and begin to become one, allowing the Spirit to turn our steady presence into a beacon of peace for a restless world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Give us the grace of stability in a restless world. Teach us to be like trees planted by Your streams of water, rooted deeply in Your love and committed faithfully to the family of faith You have placed around us. Help us to find Your presence in the ordinary and to remain with one another as You remain with us.

Amen.

Practicing Stability Today

• Commitment to Place: Intentionally investing in your local neighborhood or parish rather than always looking for a "better" fit.
• The "Stay" Rule: When conflict arises in a healthy community, commit to working through it rather than withdrawing.
• Daily Rhythms: Establishing a "Rule of Life" with fixed times for prayer and work to ground your spirit in a fast-paced environment.