We live in a world that thrives on constant stimulation. Even a monk in Western Australia, like Fr. Robert Nixon, isn’t immune to the noise.

“We've got, of course, many human and social distractions,” Fr. Nixon says. “And on top of this, there are a whole range of work demands, and then there's the whole electronic thing, which I guess as a monk I'm rather lucky to have to a much lesser extent to most people in the world.”

No matter what your station in life may be, the ability to pursue silence and solitude is highly meaningful. The following words from The Imitation of Christ might be more valuable today than when they were written more than 500 years ago.

“If thou wilt withdraw thyself from superfluous talk and idle visits, as also from giving ear to news and to reports, thou will find time sufficient and proper to employ thyself in good meditations."

Episode four of The Commentaries dives into Book One of The Imitation of Christ, chapters 20-25.

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