The world, the church and our own personal lives are full of conflict, and opposing demands pull us in all directions. Tensions exist all around - between male and female, between the demands made on us by others and our own needs, between the powerful and the powerless, between work and leisure-these and many others make a balanced life almost impossible to achieve. The wisdom of Benedict is as relevant now as ever, showing how ambiguity and uncertainty can be transforming and healing.