First Obedience

After a few days of recuperation from my travels, I have been given my first obedience.  An obedience is basically the monastic equivalent of a job, which can be as simple as helping to cook a meal or as complex as running the bookstore.  My task this morning was to help one of the brothers take out the trash.  We hopped in the truck and traveled around the grounds, emptying all the cans into bags and loading them in the truck.   After witnessing how well I could spot all the garbage cans, my workmate said I would make a good monk.  Of course, he was speaking a little tongue-in-cheek.  The weather has been very much like the NW these past few days--cold and wet.  The brothers tell me that they wanted me to feel at home.   

The Garbage Truck