The early desert Christians, hermits, and monks were deeply committed to Jesus’ teachings and lived-out practice. They chose silence and solitude, not to be anti-social, but as a way to see clearly and love deeply. They withdrew for the sake of a deeper encounter and presence.
For the desert fathers and mothers prayer was a disposition of wholeness, that prayer and life were inseparable. They approached prayer as a practical twofold process: first, of reflecting on what it means to love others; and second, as the development and practice of loving ways of being. For these ancients prayer was participation in God’s love, the activity of taking us out of ourselves and conforming with Christ’s path.
Through their solitude, they learned to be sparing and intentional with their words and preached more through their lifestyle than through sermons. There were few “doctrines” to propagate then, only an inner life to be experienced. Their words and life were one whole philosophy.
Just as so many of the mystics have taught us, doing what we’re doing with care, presence, and intention is prayer, the very way to transformation and wholeness. As other master teachers have taught in many forms, “When we walk, we walk; when we chop wood, we chop wood; when we sleep, we sleep.” But in all seriousness we know, this is much harder than it seems.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
