Book Review:

This book is the published version of material delivered at a seminar in Australia during 2001. It demonstrates how the sayings, teaching and way of life practised by the Desert Fathers in Egypt during the fourth century bear relevance to the position the Church finds itself in at the start of the third millennium.

Very early in the book we learn that the relationship we have with our neighbour is crucial to our own spiritual development: "If we win our brother, we win God. If we cause our brother to stumble, we have sinned against Christ". In the case of the desert fathers, living for the most part solitary lives in cells, the junior members learned form the examples set by the older ones. They were strongly encouraged to stay in the same place: "If you are living in a monastic community, do not go to another place; it will do you a great deal of harm. If a bird abandons the eggs she has been sitting on, she prevents them hatching; and in the same way a monk or nun will grow cold and their faith will perish if they go around from one place to another."

A word about the title is appropriate. The story is told of two desert fathers sitting in two large boats on a river. In one, there was Father Arsenius and the Holy Spirit of God in complete silence. In the other boat was Father Moses, with the angels of God: they were all eating honey cakes. The purpose of this story is to show how distinct vocations can be, in line with the real differences in people's callings and gifts.

Rowan Williams points out here, as he has elsewhere, that we live in a society that is at once deeply individualist and deeply conformist. The desert fathers were neither and this suggests that the Church's calling is to avoid both pitfalls. Individualism and conformity represent a paradox. Choice is supposed to be readily available but the pressure to conform is at times irresistible.

As the book unfolds, we are reminded that the Church celebrates fidelity and long-term relationships. Marriage is the obvious example but monastic vows and the solitary life are others.

The book concludes with a question and answer session, including a response to "What's it all for?" with some interesting insights to our former Bishop's attitude to the day-to-day pressures of running the diocese - ".you are with Jesus at the Diocesan Board of Finance, with Jesus as you try to deal with the pastoral fallout of a clerical marriage in difficulties, with Jesus as you count to twenty at an irritating letter about something you have no particular responsibility for. You have to find out what it is to be with Jesus in moments like these, because he is with you there."

The desert fathers were with Jesus. The clear message from Rowan Williams is that each one of us has to try to do the same.

J F Barnes