{"id":233,"date":"2023-11-17T01:18:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T09:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/?p=233"},"modified":"2025-07-08T13:45:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T20:45:15","slug":"lessons-from-losing-my-mind-in-las-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2023\/11\/lessons-from-losing-my-mind-in-las-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Monk Cell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Making time for the Lord and finding our own Mt. Olivet for prayer is crucial. I have a new job that requires me to commute and stay overnight. Luckily, I still have my old Mystery Machine from my hippie days.<\/p>\n

My camper van serves as a monastic cell on wheels, equipped with only the bare essentials: a bed, bible, liturgical book, and miniature lamp. This simple setup allows me to focus on my spiritual practice without many distractions.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

(Not to say every day is pleasurable or without obstacles.)<\/p>\n

Throughout history, the saints have referred to the desert or wilderness as the setting for the ultimate battle between the flesh and spirit. During a period of 40 days and nights, Christ found himself confronted by Satan. However, this experience only served to strengthen his resolve as he remained steadfast in his identity as the Son of God. Despite the devil\u2019s attempts at persuasion and perversion, Christ was not overcome.<\/p>\n

I have the privilege of calling a national forest my backyard. \u201cThe wilderness\u201d aspect is not just a figurative expression. If you were to take a peek outside my 1999 Dodge, you\u2019d be greeted by a legion of Sugar Pines. It\u2019s a place where one can truly disconnect from the distractions of the world and confront their innermost struggles head-on.<\/p>\n

Yes, the forest is beautiful but it\u2019s not all kumbayah, om chants, and hugs from mother nature. Being in the wilderness can be dangerous if you are not aware of your surroundings or allow your ego to compass your actions. For structure and sanity, my daily rhythm includes praying, working, eating, resting, praying again, and sleeping. Spiritual discipline aid in the goal of Christlikness.<\/p>\n

When we go toe-to-toe with the devil our victory is dependant on our ability to cleave to Christ. Our refuge is in the Lord, who equips us with armor and grants us strength and authority to cast out demons and trample the pesky serpent underfoot. As followers of Yeshua, we experience true rest and daily renewal of our souls through the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, also known as the counselor, ensures that we are never without direction or guidance.<\/p>\n

Praise be to God!<\/p>\n

Seed of Contemplation<\/h1>\n Our thoughts differ greatly one from another. Some are altogether free from sin. Others do not initially involve sin: this is the case with what are called provocations, in other words, conceptions of either good or evil, which in themselves are neither commendable nor reprehensible.<\/p>\n What follows on these is known as coupling; that is to say, we begin to entertain a particular thought and parley with it, so to speak; and this leads us either to give ascent to it or reject it. After this comes the stage at which our intellect struggles with the thought, and either conquers it, or is conquered by it.<\/p>\n When the soul dallies for a long time with an impassioned thought there arises what we call a passion. This in its turn, through its intercourse with the soul, becomes a settled disposition within us, compelling the soul to move of its own accord towards the corresponding action.<\/p>\n

Water<\/h1>\n \nI arise today\u00a0Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,\r\nThrough belief in the Threeness,\r\nThrough confession of the Onenessof the Creator of creation.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nI arise todayThrough the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,\r\nThrough the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,\r\nThrough the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,\r\nThrough the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nI arise today\r\nThrough the strength of the love of Cherubim,\r\nIn the obedience of angels,\r\nIn the service of archangels,\r\nIn the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,\r\nIn the prayers of patriarchs,\r\nIn the predictions of prophets,\r\nIn the preaching of apostles,\r\nIn the faith of confessors,\r\nIn the innocence of holy virgins,\r\nIn the deeds of righteous men.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nI arise today, through\r\nThe strength of heaven,\r\nThe light of the sun,\r\nThe radiance of the moon,\r\nThe splendor of fire,\r\nThe speed of lightning,\r\nThe swiftness of wind,\r\nThe depth of the sea,\r\nThe stability of the earth,\r\nThe firmness of rock.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nI arise today, through\r\nGod's strength to pilot me,\r\nGod's might to uphold me,\r\nGod's wisdom to guide me,\r\nGod's eye to look before me,\r\nGod's ear to hear me,\r\nGod's word to speak for me,\r\nGod's hand to guard me,\r\nGod's shield to protect me,\r\nGod's host to save me\r\nFrom snares of devils,\r\nFrom temptation of vices,\r\nFrom everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nI summon today\r\nAll these powers between me and those evils,\r\nAgainst every cruel and merciless powerthat may oppose my body and soul,\r\nAgainst incantations of false prophets,\r\nAgainst black laws of pagandom,\r\nAgainst false laws of heretics,\r\nAgainst craft of idolatry,\r\nAgainst spells of witches and smiths and wizards,\r\nAgainst every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;\r\nChrist to shield me today\r\nAgainst poison, against burning,\r\nAgainst drowning, against wounding,\r\nSo that there may come to me an abundance of reward.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nChrist with me,\r\nChrist before me,\r\nChrist behind me,\r\nChrist in me,\r\nChrist beneath me,\r\nChrist above me,\r\nChrist on my right,\r\nChrist on my left,\r\nChrist when I lie down,\r\nChrist when I sit down,\r\nChrist when I arise,\r\nChrist in the heart of every man who thinks of me,\r\nChrist in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,\r\nChrist in every eye that sees me,\r\nChrist in every ear that hears me.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n \nSt. Patrick's Breastplate<\/strong><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Making time for the Lord and finding our own Mt. Olivet for prayer is crucial. I have a new job that requires me to commute and stay overnight. Luckily, I still have my old Mystery Machine from my hippie days. My camper van serves as a monastic cell on wheels, equipped with only the bare […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5375,"featured_media":759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[59,62,56,65],"class_list":["post-233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-stories","tag-fear-loathing-in-las-vegas","tag-gonzo","tag-hunter-s-thompson","tag-journalism"],"yoast_head":"\nDIY Monk Cell<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Making time for the Lord and finding our own Mt. Olivet for prayer is crucial. I have a new job that requires me to commute and stay overnight. 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