The Desert Fathers: A Study in Reasonable Perfection

    In a world full of distraction, confusion, and temptation, many people find themselves struggling to live a healthy and God-honoring life. They intend to live a life that benefits them and the people around them while glorifying God in all that they do, but they soon discover that they struggle even with simple acts of faith and simple responsibilities. Many times, people find themselves struggling because they have not properly balanced their responsibilities, or otherwise are simply unsure how to handle their responsibilities. The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks compiles the advice, stories, and ways of life of many of the first Christians. Their advice is intended specifically for monks and hermits, but much of it applies just as well to modern, everyday life. The modern Christian can benefit greatly from the desert fathers in his pursuit of perfection by properly aligning his responsibilities to himself and to others, therefore creating a closer relationship with God.

The first step in pursuing perfection is developing self-discipline. The desert fathers often give advice on how one is to care for his body, mind, and soul. In caring for the body, the desert fathers frequently recommend healthy food, but they insist that one does not allow food to become a pleasure. According to Evagrius, “a dry and regular diet combined with love will soon bring a monk to the harbour where the storms of passion do not enter” (3). Good things are only good in moderation, and even the best things can become a vice. The monks constantly assert that nothing should be enjoyed in excess. A monk is to only take what he needs (4). In Evagrius’ case, he suggests a dry, but regular diet. A dry diet suggests what is nowadays called dry fasting, in which one does not eat or drink anything for a certain amount of time. Evagrius seems to believe that by regularly dry fasting but also regularly breaking that fast to recover strength and hydration, one will become less attached to food as a pleasure and more likely to view food as a fuel and a means to serving God. Breaking fasts also serves to remind the faster that his intent is to glorify God, not simply to fast for the sake of fasting. While dry fasting is not necessarily healthy for an active person, treating food like a means to an end rather than an end itself has been proven time and time again as a healthy habit.  In addition to food, the monks suggest discernment and self-control. Part of self-control is how one handles material goods, but another part is how one handles thoughts and actions. Antony, another of the desert fathers, suggests to Pambo, “Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control” (3) Once again, Antony reminds his listeners to remain detached from food, but he mainly addresses his listeners’ attitudes. People often dwell on past mistakes rather than current abilities, and they end up making little progress in their lives because of it. Antony reminds his listeners of something that most people have probably heard but not fully heeded: what’s past is past, what’s present is what will affect the future. In addition, he instructs his listeners to be mindful of what they say. His attention to proper speech connects well with Poemen’s philosophy. Poemen states that “to be on guard, to meditate within, to judge with discernment: these are the three works of the soul” (5). For the Christian, being on guard often suggests a guard against temptation, but it also suggests a guard against one’s own actions. Therefore, one must meditate on his thoughts and his intentions before discerning what his actions should be and responding to that discernment. Once a person’s will is aligned with God’s, he will find that his guard, his meditation, and his discernment will become stronger and his soul will be more closely connected with those of his fellow Christians. 

A person’s fellow Christians, then, are also an important factor in the development of a close relationship with God and the pursuance of perfection. Although the desert fathers spent much of their time in solitude, they did visit their brothers for advice and fellowship in God’s word. As such, they often exchanged advice on how to treat others according to God’s will. Since they frequently only interacted with one another and usually used these interactions to teach and learn, much of their advice has to do with giving advice. For example, a monk named John said that he “never taught anyone to do anything which I did not do myself first” (5). Here John advocates for leading not only by word, but also by example. He also, in some sense, advises his readers not to teach on something that they do not understand firsthand. If a person advises a parent on how to care for a child, but the advisor himself has never had a child, then he is likely not a very reliable source. Likewise, if a musician advises another musician to try playing a new instrument, but has himself never played that instrument, he may not be in the best position to advise it. Another monk, Chame, tells his sons, “Do not open your hands to get, but let them be stretched out to give” (6). Whether giving advice, assistance, or simple time, Chame’s advice provides valuable insight into a person’s relationships and actions. Humanity is designed to work together and provide for one another. When a person supports his neighbor in whatever he needs, the neighbor is more than likely to return the favor. But even if he does not, the Christian knows that God will provide all that he needs. Personal needs aside, however, it’s difficult to find a greater passion than that of being kind to one another. Very little of what a person does in his life will seem more rewarding or fulfilling than what he does for the sake of his fellow man. One finds that he only draws closer to God and the fulfillment of his presence when he draws closer to others.

By striving toward perfection by improving himself and his relationships with others, a Christan can also grow toward perfection in his relationship with God. In his own life, a man must learn to be responsible for himself and his own actions and to treat himself with respect and care. In his life among others, he must remind himself to be helpful and use discretion, as well as promote kindness and a willingness to serve. If one is able to focus his efforts well in these two areas, he will also be able to learn to focus his efforts well on God.