In the desert (2)

"a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" (Mark 1:3)

Isaiah chapter 40 that here Mark quoted is the scribe so called ‘Second Isaiah’. While he was writing this, Isaiah might be carved in his heart the messenger who was coming across the desert with the news of returning Babylon captivity. The messenger is the person who makes ‘straight paths for the Lord.’ Isaiah described the fact like this. “You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’" (Isaiah 40:9).

Yes. The completion of life should pass through the desert like Israel’s faith had concentrated in 40 years of desert life and the news of returning of Babylon captivity came across the desert. If we don’t have spiritually deserted life we may not reach to the spiritual life. Jesus also strived to pray and fast for 40 days in the desert right before starting his public life and even was tempted by Satan at the end. It means the desert is the right place to fight against an absolute existence.

The general character of the desert is simple. There are soil, stone, sand, cloud, sky, wind and a few sorts of plant and animal the inhabitant of the desert. In ultimate viewpoint all these contain the abundance of life too but it is too monotonous if we see it bases on the standard of human civilization. Let’s observe carefully the fact that it was possible to experience the Lord in such place, such incidents numerously happened in Israel’s history, even in Christian history not only the saints in the desert but also the flourish of the monastery movement that kept a certain distance with civilization. Why have the monastery movement and the desert spirituality kept Bible faith and the foundation of Christianity? Let’s time to think.

In my opinion, God experience is ‘being’ experience. A wondering experience before the fact that there ‘is’ something is rightly that. Why there is something not exist but exist. Why there is a man not exist but exist? Why there is only materials such as solid, liquid and air. Why a mosquito is a mosquito and a dandelion is a dandelion? Why there is ‘something’ not ‘exist’ in the middle of a mosquito and a dandelion? Such question is related to the finality of existence. There is no exact answer for this despite a numerous repeated questions and even the answer cannot but a superficial. God begins with such ultimate question. Though the Bible seems to give a simple answer practically it has gone through an ultimate questioning process. From Mount Horeb the Lord clarified himself to Moses, “I am that I am.” Martyn Luther interpreted in this way. “Ich werde sein, der ich sein werde.” (I will be the very existence to be. Or I will be the existence I want to be.) Whether interpret in this or that one thing is very clear that God is the key word of existence matter.

The ultimate existence experience more abundantly happens in the desert that simply exists. There are not much things to see. By looking a little we can see much bigger. There are not much things to possess in the desert. By possessing a little, we can possess much more abundant thing. There is not much thing to think in the desert. By thinking a little we can think much more fundamental and essential things. From simple life much more profound deepen spirituality alive. Jesus advised Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things.” The life in the desert that could be through with civilization enabled Israel people to put their heart on the Lord the root of existence. They could complete the Law by concentrating the command of the Lord only.

In some point we modern people are more unfortunate than ancient people. Though we lay aside other topics firstly we have too much things to consider surviving, or not that but to extend self. Compare to Mongolian or the nomads in Tibet we are forgetting the basis of our life by possessing too much and reproduce it a progressive scale, and a strong attachment to a competitive planning. Modern people lost their root of life and accomplished capital and entertainment instead. They deserted the desert and cultivated civilization but the root of life grow fainter and fainter

Not only such practical life we don’t have a desert in our religious life. Church also no more a desert but a market place. The church that should be a desert in the world produces more things to see, to do and events than the world. Now we have to stop church building, reduce the amount and kinds of offerings at the proper level, simplify church organization, and reduce talks and even prayer meetings. A church in the city cannot completely break up its relationship with civilization if possible a church should revive the form and sprit of monastery. The person who stay alone in the desert and see endless the horizon, the sunset glow and the Milky Way hung high in the night sky have nothing to do and to say. He only talks speechlessly with God who talks to him in the mystery of existing things.

“A church is the desert of the world.”