Many of our communities sign a "Community Life Plan" that guides our year together. We might promise to have Eucharist and prayer together every day; to have a daily meal together; to go out together as a group every so often; to open our home to other Carmelites, family, friends, and strangers; and to be active in neighborhood services. Most of us joined the Carmelites because of their commitment to prayer and because we live together in communities. That gives us the support and structure to do our best as teachers, pastors, authors, chaplains -- whatever it is that we do eight or more hours a day. In morning and evening prayer times, we re-center ourselves on the Gospel and our purpose together. During meals, weekend activities, and community events, we have a space to talk about whatever it is that's bothering us or going really well for us. As members of the Carmelites, we join a large community of men, but we also commit ourselves to the particular group we live with every day.