stronger, capable of healing and regenerating the whole world.
Man has an irrepressible need to communicate, but communication must be properly developed.
Initially, we must strike up a conversation – a sincere, honorable and courageous conversation – with our
unknown self. We must rediscover in the very depths of our soul the hidden innocence of our childhood years.
Next we must learn to have unmasked face-to-face conversation with the only, true living friend – our heavenly
Father and God. Only then will we be able to effectively communicate with others, whoever they are – the
worst, the best, the neighbors, the distant, our brothers and sisters in Christ. In this manner the webs of
loneliness are removed, the inaccessible and sunless dungeons of the heart are illumined, the shell of our ego is
broken. When we have rejected the loneliness of miserable, self-centered egotism we can begin to rejoice, to be
free, to breathe, to live.
NATURAL LONELINESS: A SANCTUARY OF KNOWLEDGE – OF SELF AND OF GOD
There is another type of loneliness – natural loneliness – which is not pathological but creative, life-
giving, full of grace. It is exemplified by the natural separation of monastics from the world. It is a loneliness to
which we all should devote much time. We must be able to withdraw ourselves from the noisy crowds which
are so superficial, so distracting, and so counterproductive – in a withdrawal which is healthy, beautiful and
good. It is important that we learn to shut off the constant communication with the many, which does not
allow us to be alone with our self – and as a consequence, we are not able to be with the One who is always
waiting, the incarnate Logos of God. We must make the time and find the way for this other kind of sacred
communication of natural loneliness. And we must pursue this knowledgeably, with an orderly, disciplined
program.
Please keep in mind that we are not talking about those who seek to escape from the preoccupations
with the world in order to find rest, to view beautiful sunsets, to gaze at star-studded skies. Such activities are
not spiritual. Neither are we talking about those who seek to meditate using techniques of doubtful origins to
achieve dubious results. Nor are we discussing those who devote fleeting moments to superficial daydreams
and who presume to have repented when they fell sentimental emotions as they remember indiscretions of
their past. And we certainly are not talking about the well-meaning but naïve who think the spiritual life of
sacred quietude consists of strolling at the seashore with a komboschoini (prayer beads) in hand. Furthermore,
we are not referring to the spiritual tourists who visit holy places and converse boldly with holy persons, but
who do not deny their ego nor sacrifice their will. Activities such as these are only superficial attempts to escape
from life, through shallow daydreaming and capricious imagination.
What we are talking about is sacred quietude – achieved with ascetic effort – which liberates us from the
loneliness of the world, even though we find ourselves in a noisy city or a disorderly household. We are talking
about the persistence and the patience which help us probe the deepest roots of our existence and understand
its limits, and which dispel the darkness that tires and discourages us.
We need to learn to pray. We nee vigils – constant vigilance in a posture of immobility and calmness.
When I am near God what do I have to fear? He has guided me to where I may be guided by Him.
Despairing of friends and acquaintances – sorely disappointed with the arts, the technologies, the ideologies –
disenchanted with social chatter and vacuous etiquette – I come to the privilege of ultimate despair. I become
aware that, in my nakedness, God Himself is there to vest me with authentic hope. And in this miracle the
blessed Panaghia and all the saints are present to lend their support.
In this natural loneliness – this divine loneliness – I find relief. The actor's masks which I had felt
obliged to put on – or which had been put on me – have been discarded. It had been a dreadful state. Every
night I needed to go to another gathering, to be part of another group, for I had to be included somewhere. I
