From Ladder to Landscape

landscape for toys, originally uploaded by camil tulcan.

Last week I mentioned St. Gregory of Siani's ladder of monkhood. I was having breakfast with a good friend and we were discussing the five rungs. There seems to be a real resistance these days to anything linear. Some seem more willing to embrace a cycle. So what if we drew these five rungs out on paper in a circle? Then we could highlight the reality that we will experience these challenges multiple times during our spiritual journey. But to me, circles seem to indicate predictability which, in my opinion, the spiritual life is not.

I'd prefer to see the whole picture as a landscape. On a hike you will generally see lot's of trees. But each tree is slightly different if not totally different. You may cross the same stream multiple times. Sometimes it may be slow, sometimes fast, sometimes it may even be a waterfall, but it's the same stream. You will experience breathtaking views as well as painful times where all you can see are large boulders, dry river beds, or muddy trails. I see the five steps as five scenes in the landscape of the spiritual journey. We are constantly weaving in an out of these scenes of renunciation, submission, obedience, humility, and love. Crossing the river of submission may be easy one time but very difficult a few miles down the trail. All the while, as we progress forward, Christ will be formed in us.