Running Away to a Monastery

“But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.” Luke 5:16

There is an indelible mark on the human psyche to yearn for the “pure state”.   There is a quiet inner ache to let go of one’s mental load, simplify and de-clutter one’s environment, and return to a baseline of spiritual and emotional balance.   The Holy Church recognizes this need and creates monasteries to be the wilderness where all earthly cares are shed and the “one thing needful”—our relationship with God—(at least for a time) to be the sole focus of our life.

The path to the wilderness, however, is often fraught with obstacles.   The Enemy has many strategies to keep “would-be” pilgrims from arriving at the monastery.   This list of cares that must be attended to before a trip can be considered are endless.   “Maybe after this project is done, then there will be plenty of time.”   “Maybe next year.”   In monastic terminology, all these “thought obstacles” are called “temptations”—fiery (yet subtle) darts that divert us from doing the will of God and caring for our soul.

The Monastery of St John provides one such focused retreat called the Orthodox LIFE School.   Established in 2017 as a regular week-long…