Quote for the Day

She [Amma Syncletica] also said, 'Just as it is impossible to be at the same moment both a plant and a seed, so it is impossible for us to be surrounded by worldly honour and at the same time to bear heavenly fruit.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers [and mothers ;-) ]

Photoshop Fun

This began with two photos of planes flying at a local RC Airplane Fly-in.  With a little work in Photoshop, they went back in time and entered into combat. In reality neither was armed nor were they both in the air at the same time.  It's all a figment of my imagination, inspired by a tutorial in the December 2012 Photoshop User Magazine.

Quote for the Day

Abba Sarmatas said, 'I prefer a sinful man who knows he has sinned and repents, to a man who has not sinned and considers himself to be righteous.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Silvanus] also said, 'Unhappy is the man whose reputation is greater than his work.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'If a man understands something and does not practise it, how can he teach it to his neighbour?'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'If Moses had not led his sheep to Midian he would not have see[n] him who was in the bush.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'Wickedness does not do away with wickedness; but if someone does you wrong, do good to him, so that by your action you destroy his wickedness.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A brother asked Abba Poemen, 'How can a man avoid speaking ill of his neighbour?'  The old man said to him, 'We and our brothers are two images; when a man is watchful about himself, and has to reproach himself, in his heart he thinks his brother better than he; but when he appears to himself to be good, then he thinks his brother evil compared to himself.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, 'What does it mean to repent of a fault?'  The old man said, 'Not to commit it again in the future.  This is the reason the righteous were called blameless, fot they gave up their faults and became righteous.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

For Christian Voters

"Far too often, the church has abandoned its first love for the siren song of political parties promising protection, prosperity and peace. Far too many times, the church has ceded the practice of its faith to the spiritual and the private while leaving others to address matters of justice. And far too frequently, the church has attempted to speak truth to power while seeking and relying on that same power for protection."

A powerful message for all US citizens who claim the name Christian.  Read the whole article.

My Take: On Election Day, proclaiming my loyalty to Jesus

Quote for the Day

A brother said to Abba Poemen, 'Give me a word,' and he said to him, 'As long as the pot is on the fire, no fly nor any other animal can get near it, but as soon as it is cold, these creatures get inside.  So it is for the monk; as long as he lives in spiritual activities, the enemy cannot find a means of overthrowing him.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

The Wealth of the Church

I'm reading Redeeming the Past My journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer by Anglican Priest Michael Lapsley.  Lapsley was an anti-apartheid activist who lived in Zimbabwe while we were there.  He lost both hands and an eye to a letter bomb sent to him by the South African Government.  I never met him but remember the news when this happened.

Speaking of the Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah, Lapsley observes:

As I reflected on these passages of scripture and allowed them to do their healing work, it began to dawn on me that disability is actually the norm of the human condition.  Imperfection, incompleteness, brokenness--these are universal human experiences, and those of us with dramatic physical disabilities are mirrors for what is true of the whole human family.

He then tells this story:

There is a Christian martyr from the second century, St. Lawrence, who was commanded by Roman persecutors to produce the wealth of the church as tribute.  Of course, they were expecting gold and silver.  Instead, St. Lawrence brought the very old, the sick, the blind, and those who couldn't walk, and said, 'Here, here is the treasure of the church.'

Let us count the wealth in our churches today.

Breton Sailor's Prayer

Had to update this picture. It just seems so fitting for the

Breton Sailor's Prayer.

I Miss the Ocean

Quote for the Day

Some old men came to see Abba Poemen and said to him, 'When we see brothers who are dozing at the synaxis, shall we rouse them so that they will be watchful?'  He said to them, 'For my part when I see a brother who is dozing, I put his head on my knees and let him rest.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Illusion of Reality in Photoshop

A bit of fun with Photoshop. The frame was done completely in Filter Forge and Photoshop. No trees were cut. No metal was cut or nailed. Just a lot of 1's and 0's working together to create the illusion of reality.

Quote for the Day

A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, 'If I see a brother whom I have heard is a sinner, I do not want to take him into my cell, but when I see a good brother I am happy to be with him.'  The old man said, 'If you do a little good to the good brother, do twice as much for the other.  For he is sick.  Now, there was an anchorite called Timothy in a coenobium.  The abbot, having heard of a brother who was being tempted, asked Timothy about him, and the anchorite advised him to drive the brother away.  Then when he had been driven away, the brother's temptation fell upon Timothy to the point where he was in danger.  Then Timothy stood up before God and said, "I have sinned.  Forgive me."  Then a voice came which said to him, "Timothy, the only reason I have done this to you is because you despised your brother in the time of his temptation."

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Atlas Exploited

Atlas Exploited: The Clever Hoax of Ayn Rand

You can follow Jesus or you can follow Ayn Rand. Unfortunately, some people are trying to follow both. They'll wind up doing the splits. You can't walk in opposite directions at the same time.

Quote for the Day

Abba Poemen said, 'God has given this way of life to Israel:  to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits of passion, jealousy, hatred and slandering the brethren; in short, everything that is characteristic of the old man.

-- Saying of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'Men speak to perfection but they do precious little about it.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

AAUW BOOK SALE

The annual American Association of University Women Book Sale is Friday and Saturday, 5 October 2012.  This is a big event in the year for me and I always take the day off from work.  I get cheap books.  Someone has a less cluttered house.  And some young lady will receive a scholarship to help her get a higher education.

Can't beat that!

Quote for the Day

A brother asked Abba Poemen, 'How should a man behave?'  The old man said to him, 'Look at Daniel:  no-one found anything in him to complain about except for his prayers to the Lord his God.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Texas Police Kill Amputee in Wheelchair

Texas police kill amputee in wheelchair


It's time we remove the cowards from our police forces.  Too often we are reading or hearing on the news that someone has been killed by police.  Someone who is acting irrationally or in a threatening manner, but has not injured anyone.  Police open fire in anticipation of possibly being injured.  They call it self defense.

Until EVERY alternative means of resolution of a situation has been failed or actual injury has occurred, use of deadly violence is a cowardly act of murder.  It's that simple.  It does not matter who carried out the act.

The reason for most of the police violence we're seeing is fear.  We need to provide training in how to be less fearful in tense situations and how to patiently resolve them.  It is not enough to feel threatened.

In this case it is unimaginable that an able bodied policeman cannot out maneuver a double amputee in a wheelchair and must resort to killing him with a gun when the person only has a shiny object as a weapon.  He is known to behave irrationally and get over it.  He has not yet injured anyone.

It's time to get the cowards off of our police forces or to disarm them at the very least.  And that includes tasers!

Just for Fun - An Old Truck

Trying out some ways to display photos using Photoshop plug-ins.  Here's something using Topaz, AutoFX and OnOne Software plug-ins to perk up an old truck.

God Helps Whom?

They say "God helps those who help themselves."

That is wrong.  God helps those who cannot help themselves.  God helps those who help others.

Those who can help themselves have no need of God's help.  Too often they have no time to help others.

We need to attempt more than we can do so that we can experience God's help.  We need to be willing to try the wild and impossible that no one can achieve so that God may achieve it through us.

I can't help it, I need God's help most of the time.

How about you?

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'If man remembered that it is written:  "By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned," (Matt. 12.37) he would choose to remain silent.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'The victory over all the afflictions that befall you, is, to keep silence.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Not 2 Bee

Shakespearean allusion for those with apiarian inclinations.

[If you can stand the PUNishment.]

Quote for the Day

A brother asked Abba Poemen, 'An inheritance has been left to me, what ought I to do?' The old man said to him, 'Go, come back in three days and I will tell you.'  So he returned as it had been decided.  Then the old man said, 'What shall I say to you, brother?  If I tell you to give it to the church, they will make banquets with it; if I tell you to give it to your relations, you will not receive any profit from it; if I tell you to give it to the poor, you will not do it.  Do as you like, it is none of my business.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others he is babbling ceaselessly.  but there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent; that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Isaiah questioned Abba Poemen on the subject of impure thoughts.  Abba Poemen said to him, 'It is like having a chest full of clothes, if one leaves them in disorder they are spoiled in the course of time.  It is the same with thoughts.  If we do not do anything about them, in time they are spoiled, that is to say, they disintegrate.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Advice for Diogenes

I've been watching and listening to the political campaigns for some time now and have a question. Do the parties have a training school or course to teach the candidates to lie with a straight face, or does it come naturally to them? 

I think maybe it's both. Natural liars have their skills honed by the political apparatus. It appears to me that the Republicans do a better job. The Democrats tend to have more visible tells when they're being untruthful. Perhaps the Republicans have lied to themselves so much that they actually believe what they say in contradiction to the truth. 

Either way, Diogenes should keep his search outside of Washington, D.C. and our state capitals, our county courthouses and our city halls.

The Bible Says . . .

People who say, "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it," are missing two essential affirmations.
"I understand it" and "I obey it."

It doesn't matter what we believe if we don't understand or if we misunderstand.  Let's understand what we believe and understand it correctly.  (It helps to acknowledge those things we don't understand.  That's the first step toward understanding.)

Nothing is settled until we obey.  "That settles it" is not a way to end an argument but a confirmation that obedience had been carried out.

Now, let's try to understand what we need to do.

Quote for the Day

Abba Joseph said to Abba Nisterus, 'What should I do about my tongue, for I cannot control it?'  The old man said to him, 'When you speak, do you find peace?'  He replied 'No.'  The old man said, 'If you do not find peace, why do you speak?  Be silent and when a conversation takes place, it is better to listen than to speak.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Reflect that true humility consists to a great extent in being ready for what the Lord desires to do with you and happy that He should do it, and in always considering yourselves unworthy to be called His servants.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Quote for the Day

He [ Abba Nilus] also said, 'Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

God deliver us from people who wish to serve Him, yet who are mindful of their own honor.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Nilus] also said, 'Prayer is the seed of gentleness and the absence of anger.'  

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [ Abba Nilus] also said, 'If you want to pray properly, do not let yourself be upset or you will run in vain.' 

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Nilus] also said, 'Whatever you have endured out of love of wisdom will bear fruit for you at the time of prayer.'

 -- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

I Was Hungry . . .

Self-regulation for Financial Institutions?

Libor Manipulation Probed by Five State Legal Offices 


Visa, MasterCard in $6B credit card settlement 


Wells Fargo $175M discriminatory lending settlement 


These headlines are a consequence of government regulation of financial institutions.  If it were not for such governmental regulations and their enforcement, we would not be subjected to such headlines.  Business practices of financial institutions would not change, but we would not be forced to learn about these practices.  We could maintain our bliss.

So, if you dislike reading such headlines and seeing the bottom line of big financial institutions suffer due to punitive government actions, join the cry by the leaders of finance for less government regulation and fewer rules imposed upon these institutions.  They should be allowed to self-regulate themselves.  Trust them.

And if you follow their logic regarding self-policing, you should support cutting government budgets by doing away with our police, prosecuting attorneys, judges and prison staffs.  Let the criminals regulate themselves and keep us and our possessions safe.  Think of the tax savings we could have.  Trust them.

As for me, I’ll cry for outside regulation in both cases.  I don’t trust them.  I trust the testimony of their actions.

Pascal and Climate Change

Not Faux news, but don't blame the messenger for the message. (A news report on climate change)

I suggest that climate change doubters consider an update of Pascal's wager. Remember Pascal said that if we wager that there is no God and are right, we've gained nothing. If we wager that there is no God and we're wrong, we lose everything. If we wager there is a God and we lose, we lose nothing. If we wager there is a God and win, we win everything. So, it is better to wager that there is a God.

In the same way, if we wager climate change is not taking place and win, we win nothing. If we wager climate change is not taking place and lose, we contribute to the destruction of our world. If we wager climate change is taking place and it is not, we lose nothing and may even gain from a more constructive life style. If we wager climate change is taking place and win, we can reverse the course of destruction and save our world.

Which is the wiser wager? Count the costs.

Quote for the Day

Abba Nilus said, 'Everything you do in revenge against a brother who has harmed you will come back to your mind at the time of prayer.'

 -- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A soldier asked Abba Mius if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things he said, 'Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?' He replied, 'No, I mend it and use it again.' The old man said to him, 'If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about his creature?' 

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A brother questioned Abba Motius, saying, 'If I go to dwell somewhere, how do you want me to live?' The old man said to him, 'If you live somewhere, do not seek to be known for anything special; do not say, for example, I do not go to the synaxis; or perhaps, I do not eat at the agape. For these things make an empty reputation and later you will be troubled because of this. for men rush there where they find these practices.' The brother said to him, 'What shall I do, then?' The old man said, 'Wherever you live, follow the same manner of life as everyone else and if you see devout men, whom you trust doing something, do the same and you will be at peace. For this is humility: to see yourself to be the same as the rest. When men see you do not go beyond the limits, they will consider you to be the same as everyone else and no-one will trouble you.' 

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

That is what our educational system has to encourage.  It has to foster the social goals of living together, and working together, for the common good.

-- Julius Nyerere

Quote for the Day

It is no use walking anywhere to preach, unless our walking is our preaching. 

-- St. Francis of Assisi

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Matoes] went on, 'It is not through virtue that I live in solitude, but through weakness; those who live in the midst of men are the strong ones.' 

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Matoes said that three old men went to Abba Paphnutius, he who is called Cephalus, to ask a word of him. The old man said to them, 'What do you want me to say to you? A spiritual word, or a bodily word?' They said, 'A spiritual word.' The old man said to them, 'Go, and choose trials rather than quietness, dishonour rather than glory, and to give rather than to receive.'

 -- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Matoes] also said, 'The nearer a man draws to God, the more he sees himself a sinner. It was when Isaiah the prophet saw God, that he delcared himself "a man of unclean lips."' (Is. 6.5) 

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

To die to one's neighbour is this: To bear your own faults and not to pay attention to anyone else wondering whether they are good or bad. Do no harm to anyone, do not think anything bad in your heart towards anyone, do not scorn the man who does evil, do not put confidence in him who does wrong to his neighbour, do not rejoice with him who injures his neighbour. This is what dying to one's neighbour means. Do not rail against anyone, but rather say, "God knows each one." Do not agree with him who slanders, do not rejoice at his slander and do not hate him who slanders his neighbour. This is what it means not to judge. Do not have hostile feelings towards anyone and do not let dislike dominate your heart; do not hate him who hates his neighbour. This is what peace is: Encourage yourself with this thought, "Affliction lasts but a short time, while peace is for ever, by the grace of God the Word. Amen" 

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A brother at Scetis committed a fault. A council was called to which Abba Moses was invited, but he refused to go to it. Then the priest sent someone to say to him, 'Come, for everyone is waiting for you.' So he got up and went. He took a leaking jug, filled it with water and carried it with him. The others came out to meet him and said to him, 'What is this, Father?' The old man said to them, 'My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and today I am coming to judge the errors of another.' When they heard that they said no more to the brother but forgave him.

 -- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Macarius was asked, 'How should one pray?' The old man said, 'There is no need at all to make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out one's hands and say, "Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy." And if the conflict grows fiercer say, "Lord, help!" He knows very well what we need and he shews us his mercy.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

The same Abba Macarius said, 'If you reprove someone, you yourself get carried away by anger and you are satisfying your own passion; do not lose yourself, therefore, in order to save another.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

One day Abba Isaac went to a monastery. He saw a brother committing a sin and he condemned him. When he returned to the desert, an angel of the Lord came and stood in front of the door of his cell and said, 'I will not let you enter.' But he persisted saying,'What is the matter:' and the angel replied, 'God has sent me to ask you where you want to throw the guilty brother whom you have condemned.' Immediately he repented and said, 'I have sinned, forgive me.' Then the angel said, 'Get up, God has forgiven you. But from now on, be careful not to judge someone before God has done so.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Virtual Tablet Warning

WARNING -- Don't let your virtual tablet get wet. The screen adhesive will loose its grip and the screen can curl.

One More Corvette

Still More Corvette Show

Further Explorations at the Corvette Show

More Corvette Show 21 April 2012

Quote for the Day

It was said of Abba John the Persian that when some evildoers came to him, he took a basin and wanted to wash their feet. But they were filled with confusion, and began to do penance.

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Corvette Show 2012

First processed image from the 21 April 2012 Corvette Show in Hot Springs, AR

Quote for the Day

He [Abba James] also said, 'We do not need words only, for, at the present time, there are many words among men, but we need works, for this is what is required, not words which do not bear fruit.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

PASS IT ON

Jesus told us to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. (Mt. 10:16) Too often, whoever, we tend to be as venomous as vipers and as dumb as dodos. A case in point is the way we thoughtlessly pass on e-mails and things we read on the internet or hear on talk radio or TV.

That introduces the issue of gossip and slander. The apostle Paul groups these two actions with other evil characteristics of "God-haters" and those who "invent ways of doing evil." (Rom. 1:29-30) That's a crowd I'm sure we'd rather not be a part of.

James warns against the power of evil unleashed by an uncontrolled tongue. (James 3:5-9) In today's world the power of the tongue surely must include e-mail, Twitter and posts on blogs and Facebook. Uncontrolled use of them is as damaging as uncontrolled use of the tongue.

Paul reminds us that everything we do should be done for the glory of God. (I Cor. 10:31)

In light of these observations, let me suggest guidelines for us to follow before we click "send," "forward" or "post."

1. Be sure what we're about to disseminate is true.

Don't assume it's true because a friend said it or sent it. They may not have checked the facts.

Don't assume it's true because you read it in a favorite magazine or on a favorite website. Don't assume it's true because you heard it on talk radio or TV. The media has it's own agenda that may strictly adhere to the complete truth.

Search for the factual evidence yourself from a variety of sources.

2. Ask yourself if spreading this message will edify those who will receive it and enrich society as a whole. Most importantly, ask if spreading this is good for your own soul.

3. Finally, ask yourself if propagating this information or message brings glory to God.

If you answer "no" to any of these questions, don't send, forward, tweet or post it. Let it lie. This could result in less clutter in our inboxes, fewer hurt feelings and lower blood pressure.

If you find that this set of observations and guidelines is true, beneficial to society and can bring glory to God --

Pass It On

Quote for the Day

The same abba [Abba Isidore of Pelusia] said, 'Prize the virtues and do not be the slave of glory; for the former are immortal, while the latter soon fades.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Poemen also said about Abba Isidore that wherever he addressed the brothers in church he said only one thing, 'Forgive your brother, so that you also may be forgiven.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba John said, 'We have put the light burden on one side, that is to say, self-accusation, and we have loaded ourselves with a heavy one, that is to say, self-justification.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

The same Abba Theophilus,the archbishop, came to Scetis one day. The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, 'Say something to the archbishop, so that he may be edified.' The old man said to them, 'If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Elias, the minister, said, 'What can sin do where there is penitence? And of what use is love where there is pride?'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Time to come home

Here's another reason the U.S. must leave Afghanistan. LEAVE NOW!

Quote for the Day

Abba Isaiah said, 'Nothing is so useful to the beginner as insults. The beginner who bears insults is like a tree that is watered every day.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Zeno said, 'If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he asks.''

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Euprepius said, 'Knowing that God is faithful and mighty, have faith in him and you will share what is his. If you are depressed, you do not believe. We all believe that he is mighty and we believe all is possible to him. As for your own affairs, behave with faith in him about them, too, for he is able to work miracles in you also.''

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Taking Things Literally

Quote for the Day

A brother who had sinned was turned out of the church by the priest; Abba Bessarion got up and went with him, saying, 'I, too, am a sinner.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Amoun of Nitria came to see Abba Anthony and said to him, 'Since my rule is stricter than yours how is it that your name is better known amongst men than mine is?' Abba Anthony answered, 'It is because I love God more than you.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

The same Abba Agathon was walking with his disciples. One of them, finding a small green pea on the road, said to the old man, 'Father, may I take it?' The old man, looking at him with astonishment, said, 'Was it you who put it there?' 'No,' replied the brother. 'How then,' continued the old man, 'can you take up something which you did not put down?'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Observation of the Day

For too many people, Jesus' observation "The poor you will have with you always" is a goal to be achieved through their efforts rather than a description of conditions in a sinful world.

Quote for the Day

Blessed Archbishop Theophilus, accompanied by a magistrate, came one day to find Abba Arsenius, He questioned the old man, to hear a word from him. After a short silence the old man answered him, 'Will you put into practice what I say to you?' They promised him this. 'If you hear Arsenius is anywhere, do not go there.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Someone said to blessed Arsenius, 'How is it that we, with all our education and our wide knowledge get no-where, while these Egyptian peasants acquire so many virtues?' Abba Arsenius said to him, 'We indeed get nothing from our secular education, but these Egyptian peasants acquire the virtues by hard work.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Anthony said, 'A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, 'You are mad, you are not like us."'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, 'Put an arrow in your bow and shot it.' So he did. The old man then said, 'Shoot another,' and he did so. Then the old man said, 'Shoot yet again,' and the hunter replied 'If I bend my bow so much I will break it.' Then the old man said to him, 'It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs.' When he heard these words the hunter was pierced y compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers