Was just reminded of this message written by St. John Climacus (6th c.) regarding monks and the good or rightness of living a solitary life. This could well-apply to all of us hermits dotted around the globe. (I have mentioned before of some hermits who share a house or who live in a quasi-attempt at a hermit "order", or in a lara. There is a distinct disadvantage for the hermit's progression, yet sometimes a hermit living with others becomes necessary: health reasons, temporary transition, even conditions a past century and logistics of location in which the hermits lived.)
I have also mentioned the recent 4 1/2 months in which I had to "wander" until God found the hermitage He willed for me. Those 146 days were a most trying time. I gratefully accepted charitable hosting by others; and in guest-modality, tried my best to meld into their active-life vocations in the world that God chose for them, just as He chose me for hermit life, out of the world.
St. John Climacus:
The condition of the solitary is not equal to that of the monk who lives with another monk. In effect, the lonely person needs a great vigilance and a spirit that does not allow himself to be distracted. When he is not alone, his brother often comes to help him; but to the solitary an angel gives his support.
I have also mentioned the recent 4 1/2 months in which I had to "wander" until God found the hermitage He willed for me. Those 146 days were a most trying time. I gratefully accepted charitable hosting by others; and in guest-modality, tried my best to meld into their active-life vocations in the world that God chose for them, just as He chose me for hermit life, out of the world.
St. John Climacus:
The condition of the solitary is not equal to that of the monk who lives with another monk. In effect, the lonely person needs a great vigilance and a spirit that does not allow himself to be distracted. When he is not alone, his brother often comes to help him; but to the solitary an angel gives his support.
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