A monk is a man who seeks God because he has been found by God.
Thomas Merton, The Silent Life
A monk is a man who has given up everything in order to possess everything.
Thomas Merton, The Waters of Siloe
Obviously I’m not a monk. I would restate Merton’s quotes into a statement and a prayer:
I seek God because I have been found by God.
Lord, help me to give up my everything so that I may possess Your everything.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
Beautiful restatement Sally. As I read his quote I was wondering what we would be ~ Monkess. Not!
I love the simplicity, both material and spiritual, of the monks.
A curious way of looking at things.