In the 3rd and 4th century AD, there was a flight from the cities of Egypt, Palestine, Arabia and Persia.  Christian men headed to the solitude of the desert to live as hermits, freeing themselves from society and all authority except that of God.

Early writings about these “Desert Fathers” were collected into an encyclopedia called “Lives of the Elders”, which included several books on the “Sayings of the Elders”.  In 1960, Thomas Merton published his own translations of many of these sayings, along with an introduction, under the title The Wisdom of the Desert (public library).

According to Merton, “the Fathers were humble and silent men, and did not have much to say. They replied to questions in few words, to the point. Rather than give an abstract principle, they preferred to tell a concrete story… If these men say little about God, it is because they know that when one has been somewhere close to His dwelling, silence makes more sense than a lot of words.”

What can we learn today from their “very practical and unassuming wisdom that is at once primitive and timeless”? Can they help us “cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves”? Can they teach us “how to ignore prejudice, defy compulsion and strike out fearlessly into the unknown”?

Abbot Pambo questioned Abbot Anthony saying: What ought I to do? And the elder replied: Have no confidence in your own virtuousness. Do not worry about a thing once it has been done. Control your tongue and your belly.

And that’s just the first one!

Abbot Pastor said: Get away from any man who always argues every time he talks.

One of the elders said : If a man settles in a certain place and does not bring forth the fruit of that place, the place itself casts him out, as one who has not borne its fruit.

What fruit am I bringing forth…
from my land?
in my relationships?
in my work?