A Movie and More Work - Thursday

This morning after Matins and Eucharist, the three of us got a chance to watch a recent movie involving the monastic life.

Of Gods and Men is a french film about a group of monks that get caught in a the middle of a small war. Are any wars small to the people caught up in them?  We watched the first 2 hours while the brothers were in a meeting this morning. 

After Diurnum and the Noon meal, we had another afternoon of work... this time with Br. Bernard.  Bernard wanted us to help remove a bunch of junk that has accumulated at the monastery and a bunch of able bodied men were just what was needed.  So we loaded the monastery pick-up with old mattresses, computers, lumber, glass and the like and headed off to the transfer station where it was all unloaded. 

Another portion of the work was to bring plants inside and distribute them around the monastic enclosure.  Br. Bernard was nice enough to show us his room and I of course requested a photo.  A bit of quick cleaning was involved but he kindly agreed.  You can see their "cells" look like private doorm rooms.  The large wood panel hides a murphy bed (kids in my youth group can look that up), and you can't see a set of three doors that hide a small sink, and two small closets.  You also can't see the fabulous view he has out the windows, but he directly overlooks the Hudson River, being right above the common room (see below).

Later we took a quick trip to Staples to recycle some old computer equipment and we were able to take a scenic view back... so I indulged my hobby a bit from the car window.  This is the Esopus Point Lighthouse.

After Supper tonight we have a sort of social hour with the brothers and then have to watch the rest of the movie.  Monks lead a busy life!