In this age of information explosion, we are surrounded by news, social media and short videos every day.But have you ever thought that a letter from more than 1500 years ago could touch your heart more than a lot of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” nowadays?
Recently, when I was sorting through old books, I accidentally found a letter called “The Letter of St. Columbanus”.To be honest, I was just looking for something light to pass the time, but I was fascinated by this ancient letter.
An unorthodox beginning.
The beginning of the letter is not as serious or religious as I thought it would be.Instead, it reads like a grumpy old man complaining, “People waste their energy on meaningless things instead of focusing on what’s really important.”He used a particularly funny metaphor – “chasing squirrel energy” – that made me laugh.
But after laughing, when I thought about it, he had a point.Don’t we all get so caught up in swiping our cell phones and watching videos that we forget to stop and ask ourselves: what am I really after?It feels like someone has suddenly lifted your veil and forced you to face your true self.
The reading process is like a practice.
To be honest, the first time I read this letter, I was really a bit overwhelmed.The language of St. Columbanus is very complex, the sentences are long and winding, not at all like the popular “read a book in three minutes” style.But I didn’t give up. I tried to understand it in three different ways:
First: I skimmed through the book quickly to get the general idea, although I was interrupted several times in the middle by my child’s screams;
Second: I marked the sentences that made me uncomfortable or that I thought about for a long time, such as the words “navigating the soul” and “weighed down by baggage”;
Third time: I started taking notes and tried to relate his points to my current life, for example, the similarities between the habitual disorientation he mentioned and my impulsive shopping.
This process made me realize that real reading is not a walk in the park, but an inner dialogue.
He doesn’t just spout practical advice.
St. Columbanus wasn’t one to just criticize.In his letter he also suggests several very practical ways to help us live better:
Self-reflection: he reminds us to be honest with ourselves every morning and not to run away from the truths that we don’t want to admit.
Change Yourself First: Instead of blaming society or others, he says, “You should clear the weeds in your own mind first.”It sounds a little harsh, but it’s very true.
Establishing Daily Habits: He mentioned that people in monasteries would keep their inner peace through simple prayers and breathing exercises.This is a much simpler and easier method to stick to than the various “read the Bible in a year programs” I’ve tried before.
Most surprisingly, this letter was written in the midst of plague, war, and his own exile.By contrast, my so-called “stress” was probably due to a slow internet connection at home.
Why do we still need to read these “oldies”?
You may ask: Why do we need to read letters that are hundreds of years old in the 21st century?My answer is: because these issues are not obsolete.
The questions that St. Columbanus asked are still relevant today:
Have I been holding on to habits that no longer serve me?
What do I really care about?Is it the goals I pay lip service to, or is it what I’m actually doing on a daily basis?
Are my choices actually taking me where I want to go?
These questions made me start to reexamine the way I was living my life.After reading this letter, I even printed it out and taped it next to the refrigerator in my kitchen.Whenever I feel like my life is in turmoil, or I’m feeling low, I go to it.That grumpy old monk is more powerful than any meditation app on my phone.
Conclusion: faith is not superstition, but direction.
St. Columbanus’ letter does not ask us to blindly accept a certain dogma, but invites us to think: Is there a clear direction for our lives?Are our actions consistent with our beliefs?
In these times of uncertainty, perhaps we all need a letter like this one to remind us to stop “chasing squirrels” and stop to see where we really want to go.
So, if you are feeling a little lost in life, read The Letter of St. Columbanus.Perhaps you will find that the answer lies in those seemingly distant words.
