A word from Abba Alonius

The collected sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers - those first monastics in the Christian tradition - remain a storehouse of treasure.

Of course at times they can seem, to our understanding, to display more than a hint of madness.

But their hard-earned and deep-prayed wisdom, forged in devotion to God in the crucible of the wild places, is a gift.

Out early one morning this week for a coastal walk before the heat really kicked in I was caught by the sight of these two women walking together, giving each other deep attention.

It brought to mind a principle of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and its articulation in a word from (the delightfully named) Abba Alonius.

If a man* does not say in his heart, in the world there is only myself and God, he will not gain peace.

The Abba is not saying that other people don’t matter.

What he is saying is that we each have a first and primary duty to give deep attention to our own relationship to God.

Before anything else, our prayerful presence - devoted, humble and attentive - is required.

From such a place of beloved belonging there is a greater possibility that our words and actions in our world might be contributions of grace, mercy and peace, rather than carriers of their many harsh and destructive opposites.

Friends, a word from Abba Alonius.

_{[*and of course if a woman, she…]}