How much courage do I have?

Desert solitude. How could one be attracted to the nothingness it afforded? Only by realizing the value of detachment. Athanasius's life of Anthony, who is considered the father of monasticism, says that it all began for Anthony when he heard the gospel passage "If you wilt be perfect, go and sell all you have and give to the poor, and come and follow me." (Mt. 19:21)  Such drastic life changes prompted not a audience of scornful viewers, but an influx of dedicated followers. There must be something in this detachment theory that enriches.

Obvious benefits of detachment would be less worry about possessions and a clearer mind for God.But beyond detachment making one free and uncluttered, I think it offered yet another benefit. Detachment removed the tendency to look at what I am by what I have. If I have nothing, then I can only look at what I am.

Such an act searches for purity of heart, a key christian element. I begin to see myself in a different light. I begin to understand that I am sufficient when I am full of the light of God. I do not need trappings to be acceptable. God has made me with an inner beauty which even the desert barrenness cannot take from me.

Detachment enriches me because it gives me better vision. It is the ever contradictory nature of loss. When I lose, I somehow realize what is truly important to me. I realize the treasures I have.

There is much in the detachment of the early desert Abbas and Ammas that could teach us better discipleship. The question is, how much courage do I have to be detached? Am I willing to peer into my emptiness?

Desert wisdom in modern day

It is good to rely on the wisdom of the ages. After all, such wisdom has the advantage of being proved by time. Yet, if I only listen to those who spoke in the past, if I never listen to the wisdom God puts into my own heart, am I not denying the gift of God in my own life?  Did not Jesus himself say, God is the God of the living, not the dead?

Think for a moment of some of the teachings of the Abbas and Ammas of the desert. They offer great insights and solid advice. Yet, they also mirror the spirituality of their times, especially a spirituality that supported an extraordinary hatred of the flesh. We now know that such hatred is counter to both good spirituality and stable mental health.

That brings us to today. Should we not be producing new Abbas and Ammas of the desert with a spirituality resonate with present theological thought and sound psychological findings? Should not we become the new Abbas and Ammas of the desert? What is stopping us from accepting the gift of God within our own hearts and souls?

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 one kind or another. It can be the desert of soul, or the desert of work, or the desert of spirit. There are so many kinds of deserts. It is during these times that our thoughts produce wonderfully rich insights, insights that proceed from the very depths of our souls.

These thoughts should be written down and shared. These thoughts can bring light, grace, inspiration, and hope to another struggling soul. These thoughts are the gift of God given to us in our own journey toward light.

So what are we waiting for? Share the insights God has bestowed upon you. And let the world know, the desert Abbas and Ammas are still alive.