Wisdom Story

An aged man, an Abba who had served God many years in the desert, prayed, "Lord, let me know if I have pleased you." He saw an angel. The angel spoke, "You have not become like the gardener in the city." The Abba marvelled, saying, "I will go off to the city to see both him and what it is that he does that surpasses all my work and toil of all these years."

He walked to the city and asked the gardener about his way of life. When they were getting ready to eat in the evening, the old man heard people singing in the streets. Therefore, he asked the gardener, "Brother, wanting as you do to live as pleases God, how do you remain in this place and not be troubled when you hear them singing these songs?"

The gardener replied, "I tell you, Abba, I have never been troubled or scandalized." When he heard this, the aged Abba spoke, "What, then, do you think in your heart when you hear these things?" He replied, "That they are all going into the Kingdom of God."

When the Abba heard this, he marveled. He said, "This is the spiritual practice surpassing my labour of all these years."

Reflection

What is the spiritual practice of the gardener so admired by the Abba?

How do the opening quotes pertain to the wisdom story?

Brian will respond to requests pertaining to seeking a Spiritual Mentor, his speaking, leading classes, workshops, or retreats. See any major on-line bookseller for his book An Ache for Union.

Brian offers retreats, workshops, or classes in such subjects as Contemplative Prayer (he trains in Visualized Praying, Centering Prayer, Christian Meditation, The Jesus Prayer, ...), Contemplative Living, A Spiritual Understanding of the Lord's Prayer, and Spiritual Use of the Scripture.

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