Pilgrimage Ponderings
Wisdom from the Desert
Here's my latest subject for pondering from The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward:
Some old men came one day to Abba Arsenius and insisted on seeing him. He received them. Then they asked him to say a word to them about those who live in solitude without seeing anyone. The old man said to them, 'As long as a young girl is living in her father's house, many young men wish to marry her, but when she has taken a husband, she is no longer pleasing to everyone; despised by some, approved by others, she no longer enjoys the favour of former times, when she lived a hidden life. So it is with the soul; from the day when it is shown to everyone, it is no longer able to satisfy everyone.'
More later in the week on where my thoughts are leading me. I hope you'll ponder with me this curious saying.
gavin: i love the desert fathers & mothers. the book you are reading is particularly good. (02/05/07)