I once watched a documentary about contemplative nuns with a group of university students. 'It's sad,' commented an atheist among us. 'What a waste of a life. Mind you, I suppose it's peaceful.' A Cistercian, on the other hand, told me the story of a novice in search of a more peaceful life, who came to see his superior in shock. 'I have never worked so hard in my life!' he protested after just a couple of days. His mistake, and that of the atheist, were two sides of the same ...