“Be still and know that I am God”
The Power of the Dog“Be still and know that I am God” is the verse from Psalm 46:10 that the monks at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert live by. It gives a scriptural frame to their customary silence and, for the beekeeper, a welcome alternative to words he believes have mostly been lies.
Scriptural Rule and Monastic Silence
Except for chanting, prayers, meetings, and necessary conversation at work, silence is the norm at the monastery. The verse describes more than a moment of quiet: it is the principle by which the community orders its daily life, setting speech apart for worship and practical need.
The Beekeeper’s Response
On a cold desert morning, the beekeeper dresses, washes and shaves with cold water, then joins the monks walking to the chapel. No one speaks. The routine makes the verse tangible in ordinary acts and shared quiet; the beekeeper likes it that way because he has heard enough words, most of them lies.
Meaning in Context
The verse connects communal religious discipline with the beekeeper’s personal weariness of speech. The passage does not explain which words he distrusts. Instead, its spare contrast—silence as the norm, words remembered as mostly false—leaves that history unstated while showing why the monastery’s quiet suits him.
