I do miss the experience of praying with others in a
chapel but take comfort in remembering that communi- ties across the world are praying with me.
Hospitality Hospitality is often one of the pillars of monastic life, as communities welcome strangers—some for lengthy peri- ods. Often they ask for nothing in return other than what visitors wish to contribute. Boundaries exist, of course. Casual visitors can’t wan-
der wherever they want. But most monastic communities are surprisingly open, even as they observe boundaries, welcoming retreatants to join them in worship and meals. Some even allow visitors to pitch in and work. We didn’t eat between meals, which was a discipline
for me. But I never felt deprived. At home, I try to eat like a monk, with a diet full of vegetables and homemade bread. As my schedule speeds up, it can be difficult. Still, how hard is it to throw a vari- ety of vegetables into a pot and create a delicious, nutri- tious soup? But it can be a challenge to remember the larger lesson
of monastic life: to open my dinner table to guests. I often feel a need for a special meal plan, along with intensive housecleaning, before inviting people over. Monastic life reminds me of one of Christ’s most important and basic lessons: inviting people to join me in my daily activities.
Work-life-worship balance Monks understand the value of balance. Their lives are highly structured, with times for study and work in between worship. They break for nutritious meals at spe- cific times that rarely change. They reserve seven to eight hours for sleep each night. But they are willing to have periodic disruptions of
Visiting a monastery
You can find a directory of mon- asteries in Monastery Guest Houses of North America: A Visitor’s Guide by Robert J. Regalbuto (Country- man Press, 2010). Or go online: •
www.osb.org/geog/searchform. asp. •
www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/ monasteries. Remember:
• Make your reservations early. Many monasteries are such popular destinations that you should make
your reservation a year in advance. • Your lodgings might be sparse or rustic. You’re going to a monastery, not a spa. • You will likely need to be self- sufficient unless you’re going on an organized retreat. Bring books, paper, pens, whatever you might need. • It’s unlikely you’ll have Internet access, cell phone service or a tele- vision. Most monastic orders have periods of silence and some are
committed to not talking if unneces- sary. Expect a certain amount of iso- lation. Although you can avoid some of that feeling by bringing a friend with you if you want.
Kristin Berkey-Abbott
Download a study guide for this article (free to print/Web members) at
www.thelutheran.org (click on “study guides”).
February 2012 29
their highly structured schedule. For example, Mepkin Abbey, north of Charleston, S.C., holds an annual festival and fundraiser where they present crèches from around the world. But before the hordes of people come, the monks have a special night for themselves when they get to see the displays before everyone else. When I was a child, my parents kept our family on
a fairly structured schedule. As an adult, I’m happiest when I keep a schedule similar to that of monks and pre- schoolers: taking regular breaks for meals and prayers and study/stories throughout the day—and taking a break from the schedule if there’s a festive reason.
Commitment Monks are committed to ancient practices. They don’t waste time looking for new and better and more efficient ways to accomplish things and live their lives. They’re part of a community that figured out a best way of living centuries ago. It may not work for everyone, but monks don’t waste energy trying to be all things to all people. They’re not trying to convince the rest of the world that their way is the only way. But the rest of the world can sense something. That’s
why for most monastic communities, you need to make reservations months and months before your visit. Visiting a monastery can give all Christians a glimpse
into the past and into a better life that could be within our grasp.
Although I’m a married Lutheran woman (which
means I could never fully join many orders), the brief periods I’ve spent with monastic communities have enriched my life in so many ways. I’m grateful that monastic orders still exist, so many centuries after they first began, and that they still quietly show us a way to recalibrate our lives.
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