The Quest for Lasting Fulfillment
18. Blessed is he who is not attached to anything transitory or corruptible.
St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #18
Imagine standing at the edge of a vast desert, the hot sun beating down on golden sands that stretch infinitely in all directions. These sands are in constant flux, moved by the whims of the winds. Just as you think you've grasped a handful, it slips through your fingers, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. Such is the nature of the transitory and corruptible.
St. Maximus the Confessor invites us on a journey not across, but beyond this desert. He paints a vivid image of the world we inhabit—shimmering sands representing our attachments to fleeting pleasures, materialistic gains, ephemeral accolades, and even our belief that we have harnessed all scriptural understanding and knowledge. While these sands can be dazzling under the sun's glow, they offer no shade, no respite, no lasting satisfaction.
Being attached to these sands is like chasing mirages. A distant pool of water beckons, promising relief and joy. But as we approach, it dissipates, leaving us thirstier than before. The more we chase, the more exhausted and disillusioned we become. So, where should our heart's compass point towards in this vast desert?
Beyond the horizon of these shifting sands lies an oasis—timeless, uncorruptible, and evergreen. This oasis is symbolic of the eternal truths, virtues, and spiritual fulfillments. It's where the waters of contentment flow and trees of wisdom offer shade. In this oasis, the soul finds its true north, anchored not in the fleeting but in the everlasting.
Breaking free from the attachments of the transitory doesn’t mean abandoning the desert. It means journeying through it with discernment, appreciating its beauty but not getting ensnared by its illusions. It’s about recognizing that while the sands may offer momentary delights, it's the oasis that quenches the soul's deepest thirst.
St. Maximus' wisdom serves as a guiding star, illuminating our path in this desert, reminding us to travel light, unburdened by the weight of ephemeral treasures. For, in the end, it's not the amount of sand we've collected, but the depth of waters we've experienced, and the shade of eternal trees we've rested under, that defines our journey's true worth.