When I was twenty-eight years old I was living in Washington, DC and working at a Senior Citizen’s Center. I had a persistent, deep down feeling that God was calling me to do more with my life. After much discernment I felt called to Benedictine monastic life. Thomas Merton believed that monastic vocation is not chosen. He said, “Instead, it picks you.”

After living this monastic life for twenty-five years I believe it did pick me. I believe my monastic vocation is to seek God each day and to live my monastic vows of stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience.

I have many favorite quotes, one of them being from the Prologue of the Rule of Benedict: “Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset.” As a very practical person, this very practical advice reminds me to keep going despite difficulties and challenges and because of joys and blessings. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.” Living in the present moment is what I try to do; living in the present moment is what I cherish doing.