Monastery: We Will Rebuild
Monks are a stubborn lot. Okay, maybe they’re not, but this monk is. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes not so much. This time it’s good. I have decided to rebuild the Monastery.
I’ll be back in awhile with more details.
[8:30pm] Okay, some details. Amidst the haze of smouldering ashes from the old monastery, a quiet idea began to form. Rebuild.
I asked the developers to determine if it was possible. After a productive meeting last night, they contacted me this morning and said they believe they can rebuild the site from the ground up while remaining faithful to my original design. And, importantly, since they are also security experts, they believe they can fortify it against future attacks. There was a lot of talk of oak, powerful crossbeams, pillars, and reinforced, well, everything. Even the cloister will be secured. They are starting over, building it from scratch. All new code. All new everything.
When they presented me with their quote for the project I became light-headed and fell to my knees. Since I was already on the floor it seemed like a convenient time to pray. I looked to the Heavens and asked God, “How can one monk rebuild a Monastery? How, God?” The Voice that replied sounded a little too much like Duke Snider. “Look under your mattress, Slugger.”
Well now. A little help is always appreciated, but… “Slugger”? Okaaay.
Given my humble mattress resides on the floor, I briefly wondered if this wasn’t a nudge to finally get a boxspring. I quickly decided, “No, that’s crazy talk,” and hefted one corner of the mattress into the air. Nothing. No secret stash, not even so much as a stray quarter. But as I stood there, monkly muscles bracing against the coiled springs, I saw the way, the truth, and… the mattress tag.
I had never dared remove it for fear of running afoul of the midnight mattress police. My ever-lovin’ goodliness was about to result in my reaping my Heavenly reward. Right there on the tag in bold type were the words, Louisville Bedding Company, Louisville, Kentucky. Of course! The home of the Lousiville slugger, the most famous baseball bat in all the world! Ah, baseball. From there it was only a short line drive to recalling the iconic movie, Field of Dreams, and in its famous line, my Godly answer: If you build it, [They] will come.
The first shovel will hit the dirt early tomorrow morning. The Monastery Rebuild Project 2009 is a major undertaking, so the project is expected to take two weeks to complete. Who knows, maybe it will be done just in time for my next Temecula trip in the latter part of May.
When the rebuild is complete, I hope we can all gather together on “the quiet fields of peace”… where dreams are no longer made, but rather forgiven and undone.
