Desert Fathers: Lessons on Community

St. Gregory of Nyssa (d. 384AD) claimed that the first three chapters of Genesis were not so much history as doctrine in the guise of narrative.  Jesus Christ was a story-teller, offering lessons about the Kingdom of God not in dogmatic pronouncements but in His parables.    Story-telling is godly, biblical and Christian.

The desert father tradition of our Church produced its own rich history of stories by through which monks were taught the depths of Christian love as well as proper behavior and godly attitudes.

The wonder of using narrative to teach is that stories lend themselves to reflection and contemplation leading to enlightenment and insight.  A story does not have to have one meaning, but is adaptable to different situations, interpretations and needs.  In oral cultures, stories change over time, adapting to new situations, adopting new information, creatively being used to meet new needs.

Below are two versions of what no doubt is the same basic story, each adapted for particular needs, having different morals to teach, varying wisdom to offer.  The basic story is a favorite of mine from the desert tradition.  It is counter-intuitive and in our culture such as ours which is completely pragmatic, literalistic, goal-driven, efficiency minded and success oriented,  the story challenges our thinking of what it means to follow Christ.

But before drawing any of my conclusions from the story, here is the first version, which you can contemplate to see what lessons you glean from it:

Certain brethren asked Abba Sisoes a question, and said to him, “If we are going along a road, and our leader forgets the way, is it necessary for us to tell him?”

And Abba Sisoes said to them, “No.”

Then a brother said to him, “Are we then to let him get us lost?”

And the old man replied, “What do you want to do take a stick and smite him?”

Sisoes continued, “Now I knew twelve brothers who were traveling along the road at night.  Their guide lost his way, and each of the brothers knew he was lost.  Each of them struggled with whether to say something, and each remained silent.  As daylight approached, the leader realized he had mistakenly gotten off the road, and he apologized to them saying, ‘Forgive me brothers, I got us lost.’  All of the rest of the brothers said, ‘We all knew it, brother, but we held our peace.’    And when the leader heard what they said, he marveled and said, ‘My brothers would rather die than criticize me.’   And he gave thanks to God.  The distance which they had wandered from the road was twelve miles.” (paraphrased from THE PARADISE OF THE HOLY FATHERS  VOL 2 by E. Wallis Budge, p 45)

Is there something more important for us Christians than reaching a goal?  More important than success?  Being right?

We might feel the dumb monk who got them lost deserved to be smacked up side the head by his misled brothers.

Getting lost in the desert is not just a matter of correcting ones’ path.  For the desert is an unforgiving wilderness with no signposts or landmarks.  Getting lost in the desert is a matter of life and death, so it is not an unimportant matter.   They traveled at night to avoid the scorching heat of the sun.

Yet Abott Sisoes gives no approval to rage, punishment, or even belittling and accusing or cursing.

Brotherhood, love, fraternalism, community, charity, patience, kindness, self-control, peace, respect.   These are all lessons which St. Paul himself would have approved (See Galatians 5:19-26 where he condemns  “enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions” – all behaviors which he says will prevent a person from inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven!   St. Paul commends “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” which he says are all fruits of the Spirit. )   Something to think about.  Behaviors which we consider ‘normal’ and expected –  anger, dissension, enmity, strife – St. Paul says will prevent us from entering the Kingdom of God.    [And, did you think only abortion, homosexuality or heresy could do that?  Can everyday behavior really keep us out of the Kingdom?  If so, doesn’t that mean I need to repent?]

The desert fathers were learning how to live in Christian community and to uphold the values and virtues of the Kingdom of heaven even while living on earth.

Here is the second version of the same story:

Twelve monks were once traversing an unknown desert for the first time.  When it got dark, their guide became confused and took the wrong road.  The others quickly saw this, but each one privately struggled all night not to show it, so as not to upset their guide.  When the sun came up, the guide saw his error.

“Forgive me, brothers,” he said with embarrassment, but it looks as though I took the wrong road.”

“We know,” the brothers answered, “but do not worry.  We will go back.”

And so, without showing even the slightest annoyance at having walked the whole night aimlessly for a distance of twelve miles, they began a new journey.

The guide, marveling at the patience and kindness, said over and over: “Men of God would restrain themselves to the point of death, rather than grieve their brother.”  (from  THE ANCIENT FATHERS OF THE DESERT – 2, by Archimandrite Chrysostomos, p 32)

Of course, we can see the ‘stupidity’ of the story – they wasted time, energy and resources and had their lives put at risk.  Just correct the mistake and hold the leader responsible by punishing him.

Or, are there other lessons to be learned….?    Forgiveness, preserving the mutual bonds of love, humility, patience, love .

Wisdom does not teach us to be stupid or blind or enslaved, nor to become victims or cynical or enraged.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 15:33).

Wisdom stories teach us many things, but not everything.  They are not to be twisted around to make us become fools and knaves and slaves.

Rather we learn through them how to become the children of God.  Jesus said:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers,what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”   (Matthew 5:43-48)