hmmmm

I have had an interesting few hours pondering, at least in the back of my mind, the example of the Desert Fathers. Odd, you may say, but I was reading about how they brought themselves down to earth in order to help other people on their spiritual journey. The example given was of an older monk visiting a younger one who was obviously struggling with temptation but would not admit it. The older one simply told stories of his own struggle until the younger man opened up. Seeming like we might have (or think we have) all the answers is deeply counter-productive to our message but I am pondering how much we can say. Our cultural norms require reticence with personal information.

I am wondering when we have this right and when we have this wrong. We cannot walk up to strangers in the street and make confessions in the hope of eliciting something from them. But within our communities, within those who are gathered around us, in whatever sense - how are we communicating? How is authority held? How do we structure ourselves to best reveal the love of Christ? Is wisdom really wisdom or just cleverness?

Hmmm.......