I read an article today from Forbes magazine about business secrets of the Trappist monks of Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina. I was struck by the belief that the author had in the transferability of these principles to people who have not made the decision to live a monastic life.
While there are undoubtedly many things that can be learned from monastics, something that I felt was overlooked was the fact that these monks are living a calling. It's certainly more than the Navy slogan--it's not just a job, it's not even just an adventure--it's a life! The level of total commitment is something that we overlook at our peril. So, while I applaud the author, and there are aspects of his life that I'm living in my own, I just want people to realize that there's more than just a quantitative difference between the monks and those who don't live that life.
