Learned at first, lived at last.

Simpler times allowed simpler approaches to Christian discipleship and stewardship. Too often we separate the two aspects – that of the disciple and that of the steward. But in their purest forms, they are the yin and yang of Christian spirituality. Discipleship is the learning, discovering, developing, and perfecting side, stewardship the application, practice, expanding, mastering side. Each serves as fuel and catalyst for the other. Dorotheos saw this, taught this, and lived this.

Why do we read scripture? To learn God’s will. What do we do with our understanding of God’s will? We put it into practice, and the more we engage, the better we get? Why do we pray? To discern the will of God and to seek the guidance and encouragement of God’s Holy Spirit. What do we do with this discernment? We apply it, we explore it, we share it. Why do we worship? To offer thanks and praise for the knowledge and wisdom to understand and carry out God’s will. What else is there?

I have long asked the question, “Which is more important? Inhaling or exhaling?” My answer is “it depends on what you did last.” We don’t ever choose to only inhale or only exhale. Breathing is a kinetic, dynamic, integrated process. So is the Christian life. We learn in order to do. We do in order to learn. It is a lifelong process, and who knows, perhaps it is an everlasting process.

Dorotheos of Gaza recognized the Judeo-Christian ethos as one of community and service. The role of the individual is simply to enhance, strengthen and support the common good. In his lived experience, he formed community with a few dozen men who worked together, prayed together, ate together, worshipped together, studied together, and meditated together. He could not imagine attempting to live the Christian life any other way. Community was not optional, but essential.

In this Advent season, reflect on the things that help you most to learn and grow? What challenges your thinking? Where do you find a holy curiosity? What relationships in community help you to keep learning and growing? How do you put what you learn into practice?