Hermit Challenged by Consumerism and Activity

This is pathetic: The hermit's deep peace and joy pierced by consumerism! The hermit edits in the solitude of Agnus Dei, some consumer complaints for an international consumer concern. Oh my--the complaints reveal such frustration, anger, fraud, and injustice. They also at times reveal consumer ignorance, stupidity and downright wrong attachments.

The employer generously and lovingly gave the edtiors a gift certificate to an on-line company. The hermit has tried to use the certificate--first to purchase books to give to seminarians and then to purchase religious DVD's that are inspirational and also good if guests come. But the company continues to charge the hermit's charge card rather than use the gift card amount! This has happened now three times, and even after it appears that the gift card is used; later internal changes are made.

The hermit called regarding the books and was told one thing, only to find out later this was not true. The hermit called twice regarding the errant charges for the DVD's--as this could be a scam in order to have the consumer keep having to buy other items, trying to use the gift card amount--which never gets used but the charge card debited instead.

The hermit found much time spent in finding the DVD's on-line (and previously the best prices for the books, and then canceled the orders, but the vendors shipped anyway, which now leaves a decision to be made to ship them back and battle it out for a refund or keep them and give a negative review of the vendors, or keep them and not give a negative review). Oh my!

The voice kept tightening some on the phone, even though the hermit assured the customer reps each time that it was not their fault. The reps went over the issue, and each time sent e-mails which represented the problem was not corrected. The hermit is now assured some other level will make the adjustment in 48 hours. We shall see. The hermit e-mailed, also, to the company, explaining the situation and the dissatisfaction with the errors on-going.

The hermit would prefer not to have the gift card, although good can come from it if the problems can be resolved. The hermit struggled to discern how one can glorify God in this tedium and clash-cross-check with the consumer world? Well?

The hermit pondered that in this case, firmness and perseverance are needed; but also to pray for the reps struggling in their English usage. It would not be detraction to give negative reviews of the vendors who ignored the cancelation of the four books; but the reviews can be worded in a way as to show the wrong without obliterating their personhoods! The books will go for a good cause, and the hermit must focus on that. It would be a waste to mail them back and spend more time battling with vendors who pulled this tactic to begin with.

Firmness and perseverance can glorify God if the purpose is other-centered, and the very souls of the service reps are considered in their humanity, in their efforts to work and earn a living. They are more than voices and imperfect people trying to solve a problem with an imperfect system of an imperfect company. Gratitude for the good intentions of the employer gifting the hermit can glorify God. The use of the DVD's can glorify God. Prayers for all the consumers who write of frustrations and injustices can glorify God. Being united with the downtrodden of the consumer world, in prayerful compassion can glorify God in its humbling factors: the hermit is experiencing the same kind of issues with this company! Offering the time spent and the acknowledgement to God of tightened voice, of the prick of resentment and anger, and of the disgust of having to deal with the "world"--can glorify God.

Of course, the hermit could have just let the gift card amount sit there, unused. The hermit has become inclined to do whatever to not have to deal with the world, for the world disrupts the glorious peace of God. Or it tries, anyway. The hermit lets it prick the soul. The hermit could learn not to let it prick the soul---if the hermit remain recollected. It is a process; this requires practice and more prayer.

But it is true, the less we possess, the less problems we encounter. How many complaints the hermit edits in which adults' and children's very lives are declared ruined because their little electronic game box breaks! Many have said Christmas was ruined because of this or that problem with some item not working that they spent $400 for, or sometimes have repurchased to have it break again and again.

The hermit is all the more grateful for the two variety-type discount stores--not too large and vast--that contain whatever the hermit could possible "need" and then some--and with face-to-face people, and just taking whatever they happen to have on the shelves without lots of decisions to make. Get the job done in the consumer world, and be back in Agnus Dei!

Glory to God for the convenience of the internet shopping, however, for the hermit can find excellent books that can be read and passed on to others, or sold again if need be.

But the hermit noticed that after the consumer-oriented problem phone calls, reading and writing about Jacob of Serug and the Holy Mother of God brought a defining return to inner peace and joy. The hermit more desires the peace, and this peace reminds the hermit to remain aloof of the consumer world as much as possible. There is very little one needs for one aging person. Enough vegetable soup is in the fridge to last a week. We must expect some difficulties, though, and the glorification of God (again the hermit is reminded!) comes with the means and way of the reaction and solution. How are all matters handled by a genderless soul, in nothingingness, who nests within the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

On another matter, the hermit is to drive today to a nearby town to visit an elderly friend in a beautiful assisted living facility. The friend is a Protestant, and a lovely soul, with mind failing. She thinks she needs to have more visits from the hermit, and she does not realize the hermit is a hermit--for whenever the hermit has in past tried to explain the contemplative life, it is to no avail. Protestants (and many Catholics) do not comprehend a life of silence and penance (and the penance hardly so, it seems, but more than most in our posh culture). Yes, the life of the hermit seems strange and odd to others, so the hermit reveals nothing about it to them, and has put them at ease with the outer garb being pleasing and blending.

The hermit does not want to go. It will involve much sitting, causing much pain on a day of already high levels of pain. The visit is complicated by two other persons' expressing expectation that the hermit ought to visit, that this is the hermit's duty--and that it is judged wrong the hermit is not out doing more visiting. They do not know that the hermit is a hermit, and they do not comprehend that life as they didn't before when the hermit explained and looked more the part. They do not comprehend the physical pain--but also the will of God that the hermit remain in stricter separation of the world, to pray for the world and for souls, to suffer for the sins of the world and the sins of the poor hermit.

The hermit is asking Jesus how it can glorify God in this visit, though, and it is preferable to make the visit than to be involved with consumerism! The hermit must conquer the resistance that has come, truly, from these other two persons who have commented in judgment that the hermit MUST and OUGHT to "do" more, and that it is unkind not to "do" more visiting, calling, keeping in contact in tangible ways. Where would it all end? What is the boundary line?

St. Seraphim, pray for this fledgling hermit! At first, I did not totally understand why you would literally HIDE from people coming to find you, to seek you out--and that you refused to come from your room at the monastery when not allowed to stay in your hut in the woods. No, you did not come out for even your brother and sister who had come to see you but once in your monastic life! But you came out when God willed, when it was time, after many years of seclusion. You came out and people came to talk with you. They came to you; you still did not go and do and visit. I understand now, though!

A hermit exists in a specific vocation, willed by God, and bounded by the hermit's rule of life which God informs to the hermit, uniquely so but with certain givens. If the hermit is also asked to just adore Him, and needs to learn the rule, it is more reclusive in that time period, for as long as the hermit senses the required solitude and begins to perceive the work and doing of prayer--even if others do not.