Two travelers, opposite directions

What an amazing morning to be alive! A crisp breeze wafts over the hills to my left, as the radiance of the sun's beams shines through the clouds on my right. As promised, father Otto promptly arrives at 7 and introduces me to a cyclist named Adam who's heading west along a similar path to what I've taken.

Although the monks take their morning meal in silence, we have some time to talk after. I'm encouraged to hear that his experiences of the kindness and goodwill of people mirror my own. I think we've both realized that 'value' can't be measured by the criteria of urban popular culture, and if you try to gage yourself by it, you could easily become jaded. As it stands, I'm convinced that there's no justifiable reason to be a pessimist if you're daily looking for the good.

Anyway, the father takes us on a tour of the monastery and church, and I learn several new things about the order. We part ways around 9, me heading for Hebron, Adam going to Webo, and the father returning to the parish and brotherhood of which he's been a part for 53 years.