Wednesday, June 09, 2004

How did I get here?

Yes, this is how long it takes for me to read through one article. I'm starting to think the 3rd week of Sept. deadline maybe be a tad early.

For those of you interested in language, our word "hermit" comes from "eremites", which is one who chooses to live in an "eremos" or desert/wilderness. Hermits actually seek places of isolation, desperation and danger in which to live. Why? Because they know these places provide the greatest opportunity to develop our spirit's capacities and to truly know God.

So, must we all become hermits in order to truly know God. Of course not. We just need to have eyes that see the eremos around us, then respond accordingly. Some examples of eremos that we can encounter include: broken relationships, memories of abuse, loss of employement, physical injuries, church controversies, etc. Some words that describe an eremos: wandering, alone, thirsty, broken, cut off, uncertain, chaotic, and so on. If you can relate to any of these circumstances or words you may be in the midst of an eremos experience.

It is true that we do not choose many of these circumstances, yet in a way, when we hand our lives over to God we should know that he will eventually take us through these various experiences to help transorm us into the people he has created us to be.

NEXT: What is the proper response in the eremos?

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