I might as well warn you now: I love the old stories about the first Christian monks. In Egypt and elsewhere, beginning in the Third Century, these men and women fled from the cities to live in the desert. I probably wouldn't had made a very good Dersert Mother as the whole starvation thing doesn't sit well with me. I couldn't give up my peanut butter cookies. I am not all that sure about living in a cave either given my intense fear of bats, lizards and snakes. And praying all day...well that would have been a challenge for my wandering mind. I would have enjoyed and sought out the deep relationships that formed.
The first monks choose this lifestyle just as the Church was beginning to go mainstream and accommodate itself with the Roman Empire. They sought to live the Gospel in its primitive purity, without so many compromises with the spirit of the world. Not at all a bad plan. Live the Gospel in its simplicity and purity. Obviously, the Church has strayed far, far away. Some monks lived in community; others lived as hermits. But even the more isolated ones had human contact and elaborate social networks. Often, groups of disciples would gather around an experienced monk, known as a father or mother, from whom they would seek advice about prayer and how to remain faithful when tempted.
The first monks choose this lifestyle just as the Church was beginning to go mainstream and accommodate itself with the Roman Empire. They sought to live the Gospel in its primitive purity, without so many compromises with the spirit of the world. Not at all a bad plan. Live the Gospel in its simplicity and purity. Obviously, the Church has strayed far, far away. Some monks lived in community; others lived as hermits. But even the more isolated ones had human contact and elaborate social networks. Often, groups of disciples would gather around an experienced monk, known as a father or mother, from whom they would seek advice about prayer and how to remain faithful when tempted.
This practice lies at the origin of Christian spiritual direction and other traditions of pastoral care. Something we seem to desparately need today. Sadly, our fast paced media driven culture doesn't allow for that much. We communicate electronically and that makes it kind of hard for relationship that can change us to form.
Many of the stories about the monks start with a disciple or stranger who arrives on the doorstep of an experienced spiritual elder, seeking a “word” of counsel. The father or mother in question responds with a brief, wise saying. Sometimes, the advice concerns a particular challenge the disciple is facing. I would have driven them crazy with all my questions and their advice to me would have been...Be still. At others, the elder provides insight into monastic life, or even the Gospel itself. Most often, given the context of extreme poverty and severe bodily discipline, these words strike our modern ears as surprisingly compassionate and realistic about the limits of human nature.
Many of the stories about the monks start with a disciple or stranger who arrives on the doorstep of an experienced spiritual elder, seeking a “word” of counsel. The father or mother in question responds with a brief, wise saying. Sometimes, the advice concerns a particular challenge the disciple is facing. I would have driven them crazy with all my questions and their advice to me would have been...Be still. At others, the elder provides insight into monastic life, or even the Gospel itself. Most often, given the context of extreme poverty and severe bodily discipline, these words strike our modern ears as surprisingly compassionate and realistic about the limits of human nature.
Such a story is told about Father Basil. One day, brother Bruno came to him and said “Give me a word of life, Father.” Father Basil replied, “Say, ‘I am God’s son,’ and live accordingly.”
I went to see the Amazing Spiderman with Daivs this week. Martin Sheen, who I would at any given time vote for as President, was the uncle of Peter Parker. He had some very wise words to share with Peter that Peter played over and over again on his IPhone after the character of Martin Sheen was killed.
Ben Parker: Peter? I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I know things have been rough for you. I think I know what you're feeling. You've been going through a lot of difficult things, with not having your father and all. Well, take it from an old man. Those things send us down a road. And I know that whatever road you'll end up on, you've got great things waiting for you, son. So, come on home, Peter. You're my hero, and I love you.
The plot of Spiderman boils down to this..."Who am I?" Interestingly, the movie ends with that line...."Who am I?"
And that was the question it seems Bruno had for Father Basil. Father Basil had a simple answer. We are sons and daughters of God. Father Basil thought the secret to living a holy life, full of meaning was to realize and to act like sons and daughters of God.
Funny, how hard that it is to do. We usually beging to realize it on the other side of brokeness. We all ought to see people less for what they are and more for what they could be. Brokeness does that I expect. Changes how you see things. We all need people in our lives who see for who we could be and are trying to be, than people who see us for who we are. We all need Jesus, friend of sinners and we all need to at one time or another be on the pentinent side of grace. We all need at one time or another, or maybe most of the time, a person like Father Basil who has the wisdom and the love to say to us..."Be the son or daughter you are meant to be. Be all that you can be, not who you sometimes get stuck being."
I went to see the Amazing Spiderman with Daivs this week. Martin Sheen, who I would at any given time vote for as President, was the uncle of Peter Parker. He had some very wise words to share with Peter that Peter played over and over again on his IPhone after the character of Martin Sheen was killed.
Ben Parker: Peter? I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I know things have been rough for you. I think I know what you're feeling. You've been going through a lot of difficult things, with not having your father and all. Well, take it from an old man. Those things send us down a road. And I know that whatever road you'll end up on, you've got great things waiting for you, son. So, come on home, Peter. You're my hero, and I love you.
The plot of Spiderman boils down to this..."Who am I?" Interestingly, the movie ends with that line...."Who am I?"
And that was the question it seems Bruno had for Father Basil. Father Basil had a simple answer. We are sons and daughters of God. Father Basil thought the secret to living a holy life, full of meaning was to realize and to act like sons and daughters of God.
Funny, how hard that it is to do. We usually beging to realize it on the other side of brokeness. We all ought to see people less for what they are and more for what they could be. Brokeness does that I expect. Changes how you see things. We all need people in our lives who see for who we could be and are trying to be, than people who see us for who we are. We all need Jesus, friend of sinners and we all need to at one time or another be on the pentinent side of grace. We all need at one time or another, or maybe most of the time, a person like Father Basil who has the wisdom and the love to say to us..."Be the son or daughter you are meant to be. Be all that you can be, not who you sometimes get stuck being."
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