Lessons Learnt in the Desert
In his timeless book "Letters from the Desert" Carlo Carretto, a religious brother, offers profound insights gleaned from his solitary life in the Sahara Desert. Here are a couple that resonate with my desert experiences.
Silence and Solitude: Carretto emphasizes that the desert takes us away from the noise and distractions of the world to find our inner selves and connection with the divine. I think of the times of my life when I was driven into the desert by the loss of a family member and when I contracted dengue fever and had to be hospitalized for 7 days. At these times I withdrew into the desert, not wanting to communicate with others. I struggled with God and questioned the purpose of my life. I changed. The silence and solitude drove me to examine my very existence.
Simplicity: Living in the desert teaches the value of simplicity and detachment from material possessions. Carretto suggests that true richness lies in spiritual fulfillment rather than worldly wealth. The loss of my son brought home to me, in a painful way, the fagility of life and the illusion of material possessions.
Faith and Trust: Through his experiences, Carretto deepened his trust in God's plan and learnt to surrender to divine guidance, even in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. I also came to confront the reality that I had no control over circumstances. I learnt the concept ‘Fear of God’ to mean the omnipotence of God and my insignificance in effecting the circumstances of my life. I came to adopt the prayer - ‘Jesus have Mercy on me and my family’.
Humility and Acceptance: The desert teaches humility as Carretto confronted his limitations and vulnerabilities. I also have learnt to accept myself and others with compassion and understanding.
Being in the Desert, as painful as it is, teaches us timeless wisdom on the spiritual journey, inviting us to reflect on our lives and deepen our connection to the God.