Living at the Edge of Community
By Ralph Karow It’s hard to believe, but I’m actually coming up on my two-year anniversary of living at New Skete. I came in January 2020 as a Resident Volunteer to get some exposure to Orthodox music and liturgy before heading off to St Vladimir’s Seminary in September 2020. It was only supposed to be for three or four months. Then along came the quarantine, and Br Christopher asked me, “Why don't you just stay?” Hopefully he's not now thinking, “Why don't you just leave?!” I'm joking, of course, but since I had and still have no intention of becoming a candidate here, it would be a valid question. For myself, I'm experiencing far more spiritual and theological growth than I could have ever expected or even hoped to attain in the seminary. Now that’s all well and good for me, but I have to wonder why the monks are willing to let me stay. There are practical reasons for my being here … able-bodied worker...