The Desert Fathers

The night before last I woke up in the middle of the night, completely wide awake. I laid there trying to force myself to go back to sleep, but I finally gave up and got online and found my former roommate, the lovely Veronica, online. We started talking and she asked me what was going on over here.

I never really know what to say when people ask me that question. It's life now. The weeks are similar, nothing new is really happening in my every day life, but I can't say nothing is going on, because there always is.

- Youstina, one of the girls I work with, is preparing to get engaged. She met with her soon to be fiance's family yesterday, and the Father of their church today.
- There are 2 new girls at the workshop. One of which will be getting engaged soon too.
- We're about to start trying to make soap. From scratch. That means I have to touch beef fat. If you know me even a little, you know what a big deal that is. gross.

But really, that's not what's going on in my life.
That is what happens in life, but it is such a small part of what I'm going through over here.
Each event, each day, teaches me something. And, that is what is so hard for me to put into words, but, I will try today.

I told Veronica how everything physically was the same, but how I feel like everything is changing. I'm growing in these ways I didn't really know was possible, and learning things about God's character that make me fall down in awe. I think I'm going to try to explain that a little more here these last few months, or try at least. This post will just be background to why I decided to do this.

I'm reading this book called The Genessee Diary which is the diary of a Catholic priest and his seven month stint of trying out the life style of a Trappist monk. He talks about these people called the Desert Fathers. They lived in deserted parts of Egypt in the fourth century - following the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist of extreme discipline by leaving the things of this world and trying to pursue God's call in a deliberate and individual way.

In the most basic sense of the definition, I feel like coming here is similar. I came here deliberately following God's calling in my life and He gave me the desire to truly seek this individual way and gave me a community to encourage me and help me along the way. He brought me, and so many others into this desert so that He could turn our dry souls into rivers overflowing with His grace and love.

One of my favorite things about this book is that Nouwen, as much as he writes about solitude writes about community. He talks about how solitude leads to community and the community helps support each other when they need it the most. You are a part of my wonderful community, and I will try to do better on keeping you updated with these things I'm learning.

So, here's to a new chapter.

Love, Katie