Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Modern Desert Abbas and Ammas

So, last evening I stood at my window and looked out at the evening sky and wondered about some of the teachings of the Abbas and Ammas of the desert. They certainly mirrored the spirituality of their times, especially an extraordinary hatred of the flesh. Yet, we now know such hatred is counter both to good spirituality and to stable mental health. And I wondered, should we not be producing new Abbas and Ammas of the desert with a spirituality resonate with present theological thought? Should not we become the new Abbas and Ammas of the desert?

For what is a desert but a land devoid of refreshment. And there are many kinds of deserts in our lives. Each of us, I am sure, have spent time in a desert of soul, or desert of work, or desert of spirit. During those times, our thoughts become rich because they proceed from the very depths of our souls. These thoughts should be written down and shared.

Who do you know who is a real desert Abba or Amma?

2 comments:

  1. Fr. Andre Louf, hermit and author. His book, The Way of Humility, which is based on the early writers makes me think of him as a desert father.

    pax,

    Rene

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, Andre Louf is a great writer, and I agree, could be considered a modern desert father!

    ReplyDelete

Freezing Beautiful Times

Life would be so much easier if we could freeze the beautiful times, the times when joy overflowed and we were in tune with life around and ...