I went to the monastery for a week ....

... almost one year ago. I wouldn't mind doing it again soon. I certainly seem to be in need of it. I learned something about the monastic life that, aside from the spiritual benefit, will stand me in good stead as an historian of the Middle Ages. There is a movie about the monastic life called "Into Great Silence" that got good reviews and is now out on DVD. Andrew Sullivan loved it, as does this critic over at "National Review Online." Here is a quote that asks important questions about silence:

Even more importantly, the film prompts us to wonder about silence in our “noisy, time-consuming” world, about different types of silence (empty or full, anxious or grateful), and about why we seem so afraid of silence and flee it, even in our churches. Indeed, we might be led to formulate a question never asked in our churches, where we seek to deploy the most advanced technology and the best practices guide for effective ministry. What is the quality of our silence? Do we even allow for it? What is its duration, depth, and reverence?

A few nights ago I went with my mountaineer friend Jed and his dogs around a mountain lake in almost complete darkness. The incredibly bright stars, away from most light pollution of the east coast, were most striking, but after exclaiming over the stars I noticed the silence. All we could hear was the sound of winter ducks muttering softly as they paddled around.