Dilyn Llwybr Deiniol ar yr aelwyd
Mae'r rhain yn ddyddiau pryderus, heriol.
Efallai ein bod yn poeni bod y rhai sy'n agos atom sy’n wael neu mewn angen; efallai ein bod yn gorfod delio â'n salwch ein hunain.
Ond mae pob un ohonom yn dod i delerau ag absenoldeb strwythurau cyfarwydd. Mae rhythm bywyd wedi newid, ac fe amharir ar y perthnasoedd hynny sy'n ein cynnal ni – ein perthynas â Duw a’n perthnasoedd gyda'n gilydd.
Mae'n bwysig cydnabod bod pethau'n wahanol. Mae'n bwysig hefyd, er ein lles ni ein hunain ac er ein defnyddioldeb i eraill, inni ddatblygu trefn newydd, rhythm bywyd newydd.
Rydym wedi bod yn arbrofi dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf gyda ffordd o fyw esgobaethol, Llwybr Deiniol.
Gan fanteisio ar y deunydd yno, a’i addasu ar gyfer ein hamgylchiadau presennol, dyma rai ffyrdd y gallem ddilyn yn ddyddiol yn ôl troed y seintiau Cymreig lleol sy’n gyd-deithio Llwybr Deiniol.
Dyma, felly, elfennau rhythm newydd bywyd – ffordd amgen o fyw ar gyfer y dyddiau pryderus, heriol hyn:
(1) gweddïo, (2) dysgu, (3) gwerthfawrogi, (4) tystiolaethu, (5) gofalu, (6) cadw'n heini, a (7) myfyrio
Mae'r rhain heb eu datblygu isod. Beth am ddarllen y datblygu hyn yn weddigar ond yn daer. A beth wedyn am ddefnyddio'r taflenni hawdd eu lawrlwytho i amloinellu'ch ffordd o fyw eich hun yn seiliedig ar y saith elfen hyn, a mapio'ch diwrnod arferol yn dilyn Llwybr Deiniol.
1
Gweddïo
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Dewi, a weddïodd yn ddi-baid
Yr oedd Dewi Sant, nawddsant Cymru, yn ddysgawdwr a phregethwr o fri, a sefydlodd ac arweiniodd y gymuned fynachaidd yng Nglyn Rhosyn, y safle lle saif Cadeirlan Tyddewi yn awr. Yr oedd yn hyrwyddo bywyd syml, gan ddweud wrth ei ddilynwyr, “Byddwch lawen, cadwch y ffydd a gwnewch y pethau bychain a welsoch ac a glywsoch gennyf i.” Yr oedd yn credu fod y ffordd syml hon o fyw yn canaiatau i ni ganolbwyntio ar Dduw mewn gweddi. Wrth bregethu yng nghanol tyrfa fawr yn Synod Brefi, dywed ei fuchedd i’r tir yr oedd yn sefyll arno godi i ffurfio bryncyn bychan, a gwelwyd colomen wen yn glanio ar ei ysgwydd.
Rhowch amser o’r neilltu bob dydd i addoli a gweddïo. Efallai yr hoffech chi ddefnyddio fframwaith gweddi ddyddiol yr esgobaeth. Gweddïwch am iachâd a chyfanrwydd, am gysur a heddwch, am ddoethineb ac ymddiriedaeth, am obaith a gras. Darllenwch air Duw yn yr Ysgrythurau – efallai yr hoffech chi ddefnyddio lectio divina i wrando’n ddwfn. Wrth eich pwysau, holwch ble mae Duw yn hyn i gyd.
2
Dysgu
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Deiniol, sylfaenydd cymuned o lafur a dysg
Deuai teulu Deiniol Sant o ogledd Lloegr, ac y mae’n debyg iddo dreulio ei fywyd cynnar ym Mhowys a Sir Benfro. Chwiliodd yn gyntaf am Dduw trwy unigedd a bywyd myfyriol y meudwy, cyn teithio i ogledd-orllewin Cymru a gweithio’n egnïol i sefydlu mynachdy mawr ar y safle lle saif Cadeirlan Bangor heddiw. Ym 546, death yn Esgob cyntaf Bangor.
Dewiswch rywbeth y gallwch chi ei gyflawni dros y mis nesaf – llyfr i'w ddarllen, prosiect i'w gwblhau, sgil i'w gaffael, cyfran o'r Beibl i'w astudio, santes i ddysgu amdani, arferiad i’w ffurfio, rhywbeth rydych chi wedi bod eisiau erioed i'w wneud ond heb gael yr amser – a neilltwch amser bob dydd i’w wneud. Sicrhewch fod gennych ‘to-do list’ o’r tasgau eraill sydd angen eu gwneud o hyd.
3
Gwerthfawrogi
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Melangell, amddiffynnydd y greadigaeth
Santes Melangell yw nawddsant ecoleg ac iachâd. Merch i frenin Gwyddelig ydoedd, a cheisiodd lonyddwch yng nghanolbarth Cymru, lle dywed ei buchedd i ysgyfarnog oedd yn cael ei hela gan Frochwel Yscythrog, Tywysog Powys, geisio lloches dan ei mantell. Ar dir a dderbyniodd gan y tywysog, sefydlodd Melangell gymuned o ferched, yn byw bywyd syml mewn cytgord â’r ddaear a’i anifeiliaid, ac yn tyfu planhigion a llysiau llesol ar gyfer iachâd.
Neilltuwch gyfle bob dydd i feithrin a blasu'r pethau hynny ddaw â llawenydd a heddwch i’ch bywyd – harddwch y greadigaeth, llecyn diogel i gysgodi ynddo, amser i fod yn llonydd gyda Duw. Cymerwch gamau pendant i amddiffyn yr amgylchedd, i lochesu’r bregus, ac i ddatblygu patrwm byw sy'n amgylcheddol gynaliadwy.
4
Tystiolaethu
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Beuno, efengylydd Gogledd Cymru
Cafodd Beuno Sant ei addysgu a’i ordeinio ym mynachdy Deiniol Sant ym Mangor. Daeth yn genhadwr enwog, gan ddwyn gair Duw allan a’i rannu, a sefydlu nifer fawr o eglwysi a chymunedau; ‘clas Beuno’ – cymuned o offeiriad yng Nghlynnog oedd yn mynd allan i’r byd – oedd y pwysicaf. Yng Nghlynnog, coffawyd y sefydlydd mewn nifer o ffyrdd, gan gynnwys trwy ‘nod Beuno’, hicyn ar glust y defaid oedd yn pori ar y tiroedd a ddygwyd gan Feuno i’r ffydd Gristnogol.
Dywedwch wrth bobl eich bod yn gweddïo drostyn nhw. Rhannwch rai o'ch meddyliau neu adnodau myfyriol o'r Ysgrythur ar Facebook neu Twitter. Siaradwch a gweithredwch gyda hygrededd, gonestrwydd a ffydd. Gadewch i bobl wybod eich bod chi'n profi Ysbryd Duw ynoch chi, yn eich helpu a'ch cryfhau.
5
Gofalu
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Dwynwen, yr annwyl-garedig
Santes Dwynwen yw nawddsant cariadon. Fe geisiodd lonyddwch ar arfordir deheuol Môn a adwaenir yn awr fel Llanddwyn, a ynysir o’r tir mawr pan fydd y llanw’n uchel. Dywed ei buchedd iddi ymgilio i Landdwyn er mwyn dianc rhag tristwch personol, ond iddi dreulio ei heinioes yno yn gweddïo dros eraill. Daeth ei chysegr yn gyrchfan pererinion, yn enwedig i’r sawl oedd yn ceisio sicrwydd yn eu perthynas – man lle mae cariad Duw yn gorlifo ac i’w deimlo yn agos iawn.
Caru’n driw, caru’n ddwyfol. Byddwch yn hael tuag at eraill, a gwnewch y pethau bychain: gwenwch, anfonwch neges destun. Cadwch mewn cysylltiad â theulu a ffrindiau. Rhowch alwad i bobl a allai fod yn poeni neu'n byw ar eu pen eu hun. Gofalwch amdanoch eich hun hefyd – cadwch mewn cysylltiad, byddwch yn dyner hefo chi'ch hun, a gorffwyswch os bydd angen.
6
Cadw’n heini
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Cadfan, y teithiwr egnïol
Teithiwr a phererin oedd Cadfan Sant. Mae’n debyg iddo gael ei fagu yn Llydaw, ond iddo fudo i Gymru yn ddyn ifanc, yng nghwmni Tanwg, Twrog, Tegai a Llechid. Sefydlodd ‘glas’ pwysig, cymuned o offeiriadon oedd yn mynd allan i’r byd, yn Nhywyn, cyn teithio i fyny’r arfodir at dawelwch Ynys Enlli. Dilynodd eraill ef i’r ynys, lle sefydlwyd cymuned fynachaidd.
Gofalwch am eich corff. Byddwch yn effro a bywiog. Gwnewch hynny o ymarfer corff y gallwch bob dydd – efallai mwy nag yr oeddech chi'n arfer ei wneud. Bwytewch ddeiet cytbwys.
7
Myfyrio
Dilynwn yn ôl troed Illtud, y disgybl myfyrgar
Abad, cyffeswr a dysgawdwr oedd Illtud Sant. Sefydlodd ganolfan ddysg o’r enw Cor Tewdws, yn yr hyn sydd heddiw’n Llanilltud Fawr – un o’r cymunedau unswydd cyntaf o ymgasglu, dysgu ac adfyfyrio ym Mhrydain. Y tu mewn i glostir amddiffynol Cor Tewdws y cafodd llawer o brif seintiau Cymru eu haddysgu, eu ffurfio a’u hysbrydoli.
Rhowch amser o’r neilltu bob dydd i fyfyrio ar eich perthynas â Duw, ac ar Ysbryd Duw yn fyw ynoch chi. Manteisiwch ar y cyfle i adolygu'ch diwrnod, ac i gyffesu. Rhowch sylw i'ch emosiynau. Byddwch yn barod i siarad â rhywun yr ymddiriedwch ynddynt ynglŷn â’ch teimladau. Efallai yr hoffech ddefnyddio examen ddyddiol. Canolbwyntiwch ar y pethau y gallwch chi eu newid, a chydnabod yr hyn na allwch chi ei wneud.
Following St Deiniol’s Way as we stay at home
These are anxious, challenging days.
We may be worrying about those close to us we are unwell or in need; perhaps we are having to deal with our own ill-health.
But all of us are coming to terms with the absence of familiar structures. The rhythm of life has changed, and those relationships that sustain us – relationships with God and with one another – are disrupted.
It is important to acknowledge that things are different. It is important also, for our well-being and for our usefulness to others, to develop a new routine, a new rhythm of life.
We have been experimenting over the past few years with a diocesan way of life, St Deiniol’s Way.
Drawing on the material there, and adapting it for our present circumstances, here are some ways in which we might follow daily in the footsteps of the local Welsh saints who appear on St Deiniol’s Way.
Here, then, are the elements of a new rhythm of life – a new way of life for these anxious, challenging days:
(1) prayer, (2) learning, (3) valuing, (4) witnessing, (5) caring, (6) exercising and (7) reflecting
These are unfolded below. Why not read the unfolding prayerfully but urgently. And why not then use the the easily downloadable sheets to map out your own way of life based on these seven elements, and map out you typical day following St Deiniol’s Way.
1
Prayer
We follow in the footsteps of David, who prayed without ceasing
St David, the patron saint of Wales, was a renowned teacher and preacher, founding and leading the monastic community in Glyn Rhosyn, on the site of which St David’s Cathedral now stands. He promoted a life of simplicity, telling his followers to “be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about.” He believed that this simple way of life allowed us to focus on God in prayer. His legend relates that, when preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi, the ground on which he stood rose up to form a small hill, and a white dove was seen settling on his shoulder.
Take time every day to worship and pray. You may want to use the diocesan daily prayer framework. Pray for healing and wholeness, for comfort and peace, for wisdom and trust, for hope and grace. Read God’s word in the Scriptures – you may want to use lectio divina to listen deeply. Take time to ask yourself where God is in all of this.
2
Learning
We follow in the footsteps of Deiniol, founder of a community of labour and learning
St Deiniol’s family descended from the north of England and it is likely that he spent his early life in Powys and Pembrokeshire. He first sought God through the solitude and reflective life of the hermit, before travelling to north-west Wales and becoming the energetic founder of a large monastery that stood on the present site of Bangor Cathedral. In 546, he became the first Bishop of Bangor.
Choose something you can achieve over the next month – a book to read, a project to complete, a skill to acquire, a portion of the Bible to study, a saint to learn about, a habit to form, something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time – and set time aside every day to make it happen. Have a to-do list of everything else that still needs to happen.
3
Valuing
We follow in the footsteps of Melangell, protecting creation
St Melangell is a patron saint of ecology and healing. The daughter of an Irish king, she sought solitude in mid-Wales, where her legend relates that a hare being hunted by Brochwel Yscythrog, Prince of Powys, sought sanctuary under her robe. On land received from the prince, Melangell founded a community of women, living a life of simplicity and harmony, in touch with the earth and its animals, and growing plants for healing.
Make space every day to nurture and savour those things that bring joy and peace – the beauty of creation, a safe place to shelter, time to be still with God. Take concrete steps to protect the environment, to shelter to the vulnerable, and to develop an environmentally sustainably pattern of living.
4
Witnessing
We follow in the footsteps of Beuno, the evangelist of North Wales
St Beuno was educated and ordained at St Deiniol’s monastery in Bangor. He became a renowned missionary, taking out and sharing the word of God, and founding a large number of churches and communities, of which ‘clas Beuno’, an outward-facing community of priests at Clynnog, was the most important. At Clynnog, the memory of the founder was perpetuated in many ways, including through ‘nod Beuno’, the notch on the ear of sheep grazing the lands to which he had brought the Christian faith.
Tell people you’re praying for them. Share some of your reflective thoughts or verses from Scripture on Facebook or Twitter. Speak and act with integrity, honesty and faith. Let people know that you experience God’s Spirit within you, helping and strengthening you.
5
Caring
We follow in the footsteps of Dwynwen, the beloved
St Dwynwen is the patron saint of lovers. She sought solitude on the south coast of Anglesey at the place now known as Llanddwyn, which is cut off from the mainland at high tide. Her legend relates that she retreated to Llanddwyn to escape personal sadness, but that she spent her life there praying for others. Her shrine at Llanddwyn became a site of pilgrimage, especially for those seeking reassurance in their relationships – a place where the overflowing love of God seems near.
Love much and love well. Be generous towards others, and do the small things: smile, send a text. Keep in touch with family and friends. Check in with people you know who may be worried or living alone. Take care of yourself too – stay connected, be gentle with yourself, and rest if you need to.
6
Exercising
We follow in the footsteps of Cadfan, the vigorous traveller
St Cadfan was a traveller and pilgrim. It is likely that he was brought up in Brittany, but emigrated to Wales as a young man, accompanied by Tanwg, Twrog, Tegai and Llechid. He was the founder of an important ‘clas’, an outward-facing community of priests, at Tywyn, before journeying up the coast to the quietness of Bardsey, Ynys Enlli. Others followed him to the island, where a monastic community was founded.
Take care of your body. Keep active. Exercise every day as much as you can – perhaps more than you used to. Eat a balanced diet.
7
Reflecting
We follow in the footsteps of Illtud, who lived the examined life
St Illtud was an abbot, confessor and teacher. He founded a place of learning, known as Cor Tewdws, in what is now Llantwit Major – one of the first dedicated communities of gathering, learning and reflection in Britain. Within Cor Tewdws’s protective enclosure, many of the great saints of Wales were educated, formed and inspired.
Take care to reflect on your relationship with God, and God’s Spirit alive within you. Make space to review your day, and to confess. Pay attention to your emotions. Make the time to talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling. You may want to use a daily examen. Focus on the things you can change, and acknowledge what you can’t.