When hearing the words “college students” there are numerous points that are associated with the term. However there is one specific identification marker that can be seen across the board: busy. Many college students are rushing from class to class, pulling all nighters to pull off a paper at the last minute, or to study for a surprise exam their professors told them about the day before. The average college student's life is extremely hectic, which in some instances causes our spiritual relationship with God to suffer. Many people stretch themselves too thin that they forget that they have to grow themselves closer to God as well. In many instances, it can be seen that certain individuals place God on the back burner in their lives and leave Him there until their problems get so out of hand. In order to be a follower of Christ, there has to be some time carved out that God is the center focus. In the book The Desert Fathers, it can be seen through the monks actions that they are prioritizing God in everything that they do. They are completely devoted to God and are making the effort to grow spiritually closer to their Creator. The monks can see in the world around them that people are struggling to grow spiritually, because they are either not willing or do not know how to let God be at the center of their lives and dictate the actions they should take to be closer to Him.
The monks are known for having little communication with the outside world, because they come to the monastery in order to have time to grow closer to God. They use this sort of temporary isolation to become more attuned with what they require versus what God is wanting them to strive after. One of the ways that they are able to stay so in sync with God is through making time to self-reflect and spend time in the word with God. When one of the monks asked the other for advice he said “Go and sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything” (The Desert Fathers 10:9). In him stating, this he is showing how self-reflection is essential in knowing oneself, which in turn will allow for the monk to repent if he has sinned against God. In doing so, he will also grow closer to God, because he is asking for His forgiveness in what he has done to disgrace God’s name. A modern example of what the monks are doing can be done rather easily. Instead of going to the extremes that the monks did in order to get closer to God, just spend like thirty minutes a day with God in the word and in self-reflection of what happened during the day that was pleasing to God and what was not. In breaking down the daunting task of trying to be a “good” follower of Christ, it has to start small so that the individual doesn’t become so overwhelmed that they end up giving up on their relationship with God.
The monks are also able to grow in their spirituality, because they attempt not allow for themselves to have a cap placed on their abilities. The monks state that “ we do not make progress because we do not realize how much we can do” (The Desert Fathers 66:23). Meaning that people do not know their full potential, because they put limitations on themselves. When a person becomes a follower of God, they should surpass their limitations that they have. However, they are still thinking that they are still thinking that there are still situations that they can not break past. They still base their power on what they believe that they can do and not what they are able to do with God by their side. If God is the coach and his followers are the players then God sees more in his people than they are able to, because He is able to see the potential that lies beneath the surface. Yet at times an individual may fight with God, because they are not able to see themselves grow. That is why as a follower of Christ, they must let go of their earthly limitations that they have set for themselves, and rise to the standards God has set for them. It will not be easy, but with spending time in alignment with God it will be easier to understand.
The monks also seem to warn people about the micromanagement process of their lives. They state that “ if a man prepares for the next day, it cuts away the fruit of his spirit and leaves him dry” (The Desert Fathers 83:23). It seems to suggest that with trying to plan out every single part of the day, a person will not be able to see the blessings God has given to them. They will miss all the tiny miracles God does for them daily. Instead the monks are wanting individuals to allow God to work throughout their day, because God will provide them with all that they need. Yet He can only work if His people give Him the time of day to want to seek Him.
It seems that the more an individual grows up, the more a person struggles with their spirituality. Many individuals get so busy and caught up in their earthly existence that they forget to also focus on their spiritual existence. Yet there are ways that an individual can purposely grow spiritually and one is making time to self-reflect in the word. It isn’t a crazy formula in growing closer to God, all that has to be done is to crack scripture open and get to reading. Make the conscious decision to place God in the front of the mind instead of tucked away in the back for a rainy day. His blessings are all around earth, it is just a person’s job to search for it and find it.
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