To be both monk and artist is to live a delicate balance between two strong desires. It is the desire to live for God alone and the desire to creatively express that which is most meaningful. By temperament and training I am artist. It colors how I see, how I feel and how I express myself and how I relate to the world. By vocation, I am a monk, following the sixth century Rule of St. Benedict. It also colors my life and provides a strong spiritual direction and identity for me. But are they compatible or contradictory?

There is no easy answer to the question. When examined closely, each in itself would suggest a complete vocation and way of life. In fact, they may seem to be antithetical, in direct contrast to one another. One seeks self-expression and recognition, the other seeks self-denial and anonymity. At times they are in conflict with one another. There is no denying this.