Go read Claire’s latest, Living Boldly.
Saints. Heroes. Forest-goers. Outlaws of all kinds. All live boldly.
But how can somebody who withdraws from the world be in the same category, or doing as much good, as somebody who picks up a sword or a gun or an idea or a bullhorn and fights tyranny?
Because each one first determines to be an individual. An owner of his own life. A chooser of her own choices. An actor of his own acts. A pioneer of her own path. Each chooses to be his own center of strength, truth, and security (or to choose his own center in the spiritual realm).
And every deadly danger to Leviathan begins right there.
The only thing with which I can think to disagree is that I’m mentioned in there, and nobody ever called me a saint without tongue very firmly in cheek. Even me.
Every self owner, however imperfect (or humble) is that deadly danger to Leviathan… That’s part of what makes it so powerful. Nobody has to wait to be perfect (or for anything else) to own themselves. 🙂
Some of our greatest saints went off by themselves into the desert, Joel.
🙂 If I’m counted among them, some of our lesser ones did as well.
St. John the Dwarf was always one of my favorites of the desert hermits. 😉