We are a fortunate family for the work we do, we enjoy.  The Benedictines have a motto: "Prayer and Work" (ora et labora). Their work, prayer life and study or "lectio divina", maintains a balance in their lives. It teaches responsibility to their neighbor and God, without letting work take over. It allows prayer to be in work and work in prayer.

One day during the summer of 1967, I told my parents I had an military physical that following Monday. I was still in college. At the time our country's involvement in Vietnam was all everyone talked about. Someone back then told me I would do well with computers. I told the military that's what I wanted to do. They said forget it, so I was trained for another job and was assigned to do something entirely different. A year had gone by and my job was moved to another branch of the service. Without a job, the service said I could transfer anywhere in the world or go back to school. I told them school and I wanted to be trained in computers. They said I did not have any experience. I told them to put me in for school anyway. Much to everyone's amazement I got the school and ever since my interests in computers has blossomed.

I met my wife while I was in college. After I graduated and as a military officer we were stationed at a base in Maryland. When we first arrived she was encouraged to join the Officer's Wives Club. At her first meeting when the general's wife came into the room, everyone stood up. She felt very uncomfortable in the meeting so instead of attending future ones she volunteered as a nurse's aid at a local military hospital. She found not only a love in helping people but a future vocation that stood by her now for over 20 years.