Sunday, March 29, 2009

The Wisdom of the Desert Abba and Amma (16)

A certain man said that there were once three men who loved labors, and they were monks. The first one chose to go about and see where there was strife, which he turned into peace; the second chose to go about and visit the sick; but the third departed to the desert that he might dwell in quietness. Finally the first man, who had chosen to still the contentions of men, was unable to make every man to be at peace with his neighbor, and his spirit was sad. He went to the man who had chosen to visit the sick; he found him in affliction because he was not able to fulfill the law which he had laid down for himself.

Then the two of them went to the monk in the desert, and seeing each other they rejoiced, and the two men related to the third the tribulations which had befallen them in the world. They entreated him to tell them how he had lived in the desert. He was silent, but after a little he said unto them, "Come, let each of us go and fill a vessel of water." After they had filled the vessel, he said unto them, "Pour out some of the water into a basin, and look down to the bottom through it," and they did so. He then said unto them, "What do you see?" And they said, "We see nothing." After the water in the basin had ceased to move, he said to them a second time, "Look into the water," and they looked, and he said unto them, "What do you see?" They said unto him, "We see our own faces distinctly."

He said unto them, "Thus is it with the man who dwelleth with men, for by reason of the disturbance caused by the affairs of the world he cannot see his sins; but if he live in the peace and quietness of the desert he is able to see God clearly."

4 comments:

  1. hmm.... but if one dwells alone in the dessert, how can one share the good news with others?

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  2. Hi Paul,

    I believe there is a vocation or calling for some people to a contemplative life as are some to an active life. However I also believe that at some stages in our lives we are called to be contemplative, others active and at times both. As I looked at the life of Gregory the Great and Thomas Merton, I see evidence of this.

    I have a friend in the US who has a calling to be a hermit. To hide away from the world and pray for the world. I believe we have need or people like her. Of course, she is a modern hermit with access to the Internet. She stays at a corner of a large retreat center and earns her keep by janitorial work.

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  3. Sometimes I wish I could be a hermit. I enjoy people but sometimes my introvert nature just wants to get away and hide for years so I can read, reflect, pray and do some stuff on my do "learn and do list" undisturbed :-)

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  4. Sometimes I wish I could be a hermit. I enjoy people but sometimes my introvert nature just wants to get away and hide for years so I can read, reflect, pray and do some stuff on my do "learn and do list" undisturbed

    Me too, me too! Ah! Like a dove that would fly away and be at rest lodged in the wilderness (Ps 55:6-7).

    It is the earning my keep that is the obstacle :( and responsibilities to loved ones as well.

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