Balance-A Foundation Not a Trend
Maybe it's a sign of the times; or maybe it's a sign of entrepreneurship and good marketing; or maybe it's a search for something very important in the wrong place. That's what I wondered when I heard that some students visit a local "oxygen bar" in an attempt to restore balance to their lives. Though I have not experienced it, perhaps breathing eucalyptus infused air while lounging in a hammock does clear one's mind, even while emptying one's wallet. But can this mini-escape really achieve anything significant toward living a balanced life? I suspect not.

The desire to achieve harmonious balance in one's life is a fundamental human aspiration. It is that part of how we think and how we feel that tells us that extremes, while they may be endured, are not how we are made to live. In fact, we all know very well that extreme feats of endurance (for example, sleepless nights)leave us less productive, less thoughtful, less able to act in fully human ways.

In a world that moves at a pace that borders on frenetic, we are more aware than ever of our inherent desire to find that point where family, work, community, and faith complement and support one another, rather than compete for the scarce resources of our time and attention. Even the marketing of colleges has been affected by this search for balance with the promise of just the right combination of academic rigor, athletic opportunity, and a pristine physical environment. While many institutions may have just awakened to the need for balance, for us at Saint Anselm College, this is not a new idea. It is neither the result of new age "discovery" nor the conclusion of a short-lived spa visit. It is, rather, something that is fundamental to our Benedictine heritage and identity.

When he wrote his Rule for Monasteries nearly 1,500 years ago, Saint Benedict profoundly understood that for people to live well, their lives must include sufficient time for interpersonal relationships, for work, for rest, for study, and for prayer. No part of the human person could be left unattended—neither the physical nor the social, nor the spiritual. Likewise, no single part of human life and activity could become so dominant that it excluded the others. Too much work, Saint Benedict knew, would leave one too tired for prayer and reading. Too much time in prayer and reading would leave one without the resources for physical survival.

For Saint Benedict, and for the people and institutions that follow his inspiration, this harmonious balance is a means to bring peace and joy now, and eternal life in union with God hereafter.

Our cover story features four members of the Saint Anselm College community. They are different in age, in background, and in life experience. Yet they all share our Benedictine understanding of balance. Each has his or her own distinct approach to balance, and interestingly, not one includes visits to an oxygen bar.

Rev. Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., President