That Time I Hung Out with Monks

Christ in the Desert Monestary is possibly one of the most unique places I have been. While in seminary, I had the chance to spend about a week with Benedictine Monks, my professor Dr. Gloer, and a handful of my colleagues. Daily prayers beginning at 4 a.m. and meals in complete silence were all apart of our schedule, along with work either in the office or in the garden, class, reading, and exploring.

Without going into a ton of detail, I made frienimies with Father Christian. 

Now, Father Christian was a no noncence man of God who lived tried and true to Ora Et Labora. He was a man of few words and strict in his convictions. He was a man of respect and made sure there was always enough work for us to do, and that no one’s voices stood out in chants. Out of all of the monks I became aquainted with, Father Christian was probably the one I had the most contact with. He was awesome and, for me, the most memorable.

To be completely honest, I couldn’t tell if he hated me or if we were buddies, but I do have a lot of fun memories that stand out specifically with him. Previously I have shared with you that one of my favorite notes I have ever gotten from a professor in seminary was from Dr. Gloer when he said that, “God’s first language is silence.” For those of you who know me, you know that silence is not something I am known for. When experiencing the culture of Christ in the Desert, we were encouraged to spend our own time in silence. If you chose to do that, there was a sign that you put in so others knew you were taking a vow of silence and to not talk to you.

I decided to try it out. Within the first 30 minutes, I forgot I was wearing it and ran after Father Christian asking to take a video for my brother. At the time, my little brother would only get up for school if my mom had a video to show him in the morning and my job was to send her said videos. I was surrounded by monks…I had to get a video (in the appropriate setting of course) to send to my brother. He would be so excited! Well, I ran after Father Christian and he agreed to the video. His video was the following: he stood there with his hands in front of him, covered by his sleeves with a Stern face. He said, “hello Zach, my name is Father Christian, and I have met your sister. She seems to have trouble following the vow of silence” and promptly walked away with video still rolling. 

Oops. 

Zach got a kick out of the video and I got a good laugh, too. I got a chance to see Father Christians face in the same stern way multiple times during my time there and saw it photographed on the hops and beer steins that they made and sold outside their dining room. 

I cherish the time I spent there, especially the emphasis in the practice of silence.

This Thursday I ask you to join me in checking out one of my favorite theologians veiw of silence and why we should bother to incorporate it in our daily lives. 

One of my favorite authors and theologians is Henri Nouwen. I discovered this favoritism while I was at Christ in the Desert. Nouwen was one of our assigned authors. In the book, “The Only Necessary Thing” compiled and edited by Wendy Wilson Greer, I found more quotes than I could imagine that spoke directly to my being, especially about silence.

 “Silence is the discipline that helps us to go beyond the entertainment quality of our lives”…”we may find silence in nature, in our own houses, in a church or meditation hall. But wherever we find it, we should cherish it. Because it is in silence that we can truely acknowledge who we are and gradually claim ourselves as a gift from God. At first silence might frighten only frighten us. In silence we start hearing the voices of darkness: our jealousy and anger, our resentment and desire for revenge, our list and greed, and our pain over losses, abuse, and rejections”…”But of we have the discipline to stay put and not let these dark voices intimidate us, they will gradually lose their strength and recede into the background, creating space for the softer, gentler voices of the light…”

This exerpt comes from Nouwen’s book, “Can You Drink the Cup?” I relate so much to the first part of this quote. I fear silence! I fear all of it. How can God be in the silence if all of these things in my head are clouding His voice. It is so difficult to get to the point to just be with God, but Nouwen is clear that over time and effort and help…we can recognize the love and encounters with Christ in silence.

My challenge, friends, is that we engage in silence starting whatever new chapter, middle of chapter, or end of a chapter you may be in. Let me know how God is meeting with you in these times!