On Conversion

I’ve known people who’ve converted, or reconverted, to Buddhism, Judaism, Catholicism, and Born-Again Christianism. One man went from Catholic to Islamic to Biblical Fundamentalist: that’s a lot of conversion. Conversion can change families and friends to unrecognisables, having drastic and sorrowful effects; or it can give illumination and life.

            Scientific conversion talks about energy. Energy being moved from one state to another. Heat to mechanical movement, for example. In closed systems, energy cannot be lost. Maybe it can be frittered away, though.          

            What does Benedict mean by ‘conversion of life?’ Some say the correct translation is ‘conversation’ as a way of life within the monastic setting. Such conversation is with one’s fellows as well as one’s environment as well as with God. The monastic environment is one of constant prayer and saying of the Hours, in the midst of daily work.

            Work is conversion of energy.

            Conversion implies change. And since most of us aren’t monastics, the lay life could be changed to reflect our conversation with God, our fellows, and our environment, or context. Ongoing conversion.

            Try changing something today. Even something small: wear a different colour, pray a new prayer, speak to someone you often ignore. A major conversion would find you. But conversion of energy as a way of life, you can find.