Wrestling with God

In our discussions yesterday we spent a great deal of time looking at the early Monastic movement.  Have we ever heard of St. Antony?   Antony spent twenty years stored up in the wreckage of an old castle - wrestling with all of his demons.  He only at bread and water - it is rumored that people heading out to see him often heard strange noises as he battled the demons in his life.  Want to see some interesting art - google St. Antony and pictures - the people living in the time of Antony - 300AD and later had serious imaginations.

What does the life of Antony have to say to inform us today?  Please don't fear that I will be heading to Potter County for the next 3 years just to work out my demons - though it may be a good idea I think we all could be helped by spending a weekend or a half an hour a day considering our "demons" - our sins, struggles - lust, anxiousness, people pleasing, impatience, materialism, and so on.  It seems to me that we work awfully hard to never have to face those nasty little guys - most walkers wear headphones with back ground noise or watch the TV at the gym.  If we can fill our lives to the brim every moment - then we never have to look at our faults.  Sorry to say if we never explore them, repent from them, and hand them to God we certainly will never chip away at them.  

It is best actually to work on that stuff within the community of saints - with a counselor, in a small group, with a pastor, or friend.  We are all broken.  Christ is calling us to a life of wrestling and healing - trust in Christ and the community to walk with us.  WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.  As a wise man once said - We are all a bunch of bozos on the bus - and we need Jesus to drive us home.  

Blessings

Hunter