Chapter One: Heaven Begins Within You

What we see early in Anselm Gruen’s reflections on the wisdom of the desert fathers is an emphasis on knowing oneself as a way to God. Because of this emphasis, many desert monastics became remarkably astute and insightful about the dynamics of human thoughts and feelings, so that psychologists today are apt to quote them.

Another scholar of the 4^th and 5^th century desert monastics is the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. In 2001, Williams was invited to lead the John Main Seminar in Sydney, Australia, and his addresses ultimately became a beautiful little book (though a bit more scholarly in bent than Gruen’s) entitled, Where God Happens. The title points to this fundamental insight: God happens in you, in me, and in our relationship with each other — as Rowan Williams’ subtitle puts it, “Discovering Christ in One Another.”

The desert monastics reflected deeply on the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus, but their business was not cultivating a religion about Jesus, it was about cultivating in themselves the life of Jesus. So, interestingly, the desert monastics do not talk about things like theories of the atonement. In fact, they don’t even talk much about Jesus.

But in learning deeply about themselves and being especially honest about their own shortcomings and failures, they develop a profound sympathy and gentleness for the struggles of their neighbor. In developing an intimate familiarity with the stresses and strains of being human, they simultaneously grow in their steadfast refusal to judge.

The result is that “God happens” here, in our loving reconciliation with each other, not in the pursuit of unattainable, moralistic ideals.

This perhaps signals why Anselm Gruen titles his first chapter, “Spirituality from below.” And the first story he recounts from the desert sayings is a well-known episode involving Abba Poimen (also spelled Poemen in other translations). As the story goes, a renowned theologian of his day visited Abba Poimen and wanted to engage Poimen in lofty discussions of the spiritual life and such topics as the Trinity. But Abba Poimen listened without saying a word. He turned aside and refused to speak.

Observing this, Abba Poimen’s companion apparently grew nervous and said to Poimen, “Father, this great man came here on account of you; he enjoys immense prestige where he lives. Why haven’t you spoken with him?” The old man replied: “He dwells on the heights and speaks of heavenly things; but I belong in the lower regions and speak of earthly things. If he had spoken about the passions of the soul, I would certainly have answered him. But when he talks about what is spiritual, I don’t understand it.”

For Abba Poimen, Gruen explains, dealing with real human struggles was the path to God.

The desert story concludes with Abba Poimen’s companion explaining to the irritated guest: “The old man does not speak readily about Scripture, but when someone speaks with him about the passions of the soul, he gives an answer.” The great theologian thought for a while and went to Poimen and said: “What should I do when the passions of the soul start overpowering me?” The old man gladly acknowledged him and said: “Now you’ve come to the right way; open your mouth for these things, and I shall fill it with good.” The visitor found this very useful and said, “Truly, this is the right way!” And with gratitude to God he returned to his country, because he had been found worthy to meet with such a great saint.

Anselm Gruen comments, “Once they were talking about the passions of the soul, their conversation became sincere. They touched one another’s hearts, and together they got into the subject of God, whom they felt in their midst, before their eyes, the goal of their path.” (Heaven Begins Within You, pp. 18-20)

What do you know of a “spirituality from below”? What is your experience of “where God happens?”