• Español
  • Historical Archives
  • Convention
  • Contact Us
Support the Ministry Give
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Home / Menno Snapshots / No need to be a know-it-all
May 09 2017

No need to be a know-it-all

Eric Massanari is chaplain at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton, Kansas. Eric is a member of the Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network.

Here is a story from the fourth century Desert Fathers and Mothers of Egypt and Palestine:

Abba Amoun came to Abba Sisois saying: ‘When I read Scripture, I long to prepare elaborate comments, so that I will be ready to answer questions about it if I am asked.’ The old man said, ‘There is no need. It is better to speak the word simply, with a good conscience and a pure mind.’[1]

The desire to have right answers at the ready, the desire to be relevant and responsive to any situation, the desire to be seen by others as in-the-know — these are such common human desires. So, we might be sympathetic to Amoun in this transparent moment as he expresses a longing that is driven more by self-interest than faithfulness.

Amoun invites me to think of things like weekly sermon preparation and the moments when I find myself struggling for just the right words to illustrate a point, or when I feel like I need to do just a bit more research on a thought in order to “back it up.” He invites me to consider those moments when I am offering pastoral care or spiritual direction and begin to feel like I am not being helpful enough or, even worse, holy enough! These desires arise from ego-consciousness, my need to prove myself or shore myself up in the eyes of others. I think, too, of those very ordinary conversations in which I’m suddenly pricked by something someone has said and feel a need to refute their point and defend my own.

Abba Sisois responds with gentle and wise counsel: speak simply, with a good conscience and a pure mind. I’ve also heard it stated this way: Listen more than you speak. When you speak, speak from the heart.

Speak from the heart of your true being. Trust that God has given you (and each person you meet along the way) truth to speak with your life.

Your speech may be with words, it may come through your actions, or it may flow when you are simply being present to someone in a loving way.

We do not need to have all the answers, and we don’t need to prepare well-defended positions just in case someone asks us the questions we most fear. It’s okay — perhaps it is even holy — to say, “I don’t know.” God asks only that we speak the truth we have come to know with love, and then remain alive with curiosity, listening for the truth God is speaking through others and through the world.

___________________________

[1] From Daily Readings with the Desert Fathers. Edited by Benedicta Ward SLG. Templegate Publishers: Springfield, Illinois.

  • Posted in Menno Snapshots, Spiritual Directors Network
  • Tagged desert fathers and mothers, Eric Massanari, Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail
Official comments policy for users of Mennonite Church USA’s websites and other social networking tools. We reserve the right to remove any comment that violates this policy.
  • The purpose of comments is to engage in constructive dialogue.
  • Please provide your own full name.
  • Be respectful. If you’re offering criticism, focus on others’ ideas — not their motives, person, character or faith. Consider the log in your own eye before pressing ‘Enter.’
Comments are moderated. Comments with any content that is deemed obscene, libelous, defamatory or hateful toward an individual or group will not be approved. Comments will remain open for 10 days.
    --
Política de comentarios oficiales para los usuarios de los sitios en Internet y otras herramientas de redes sociales pertenecientes a la Iglesia Menonita de EE.UU. Nos reservamos el derecho de eliminar cualquier comentario que viola esta política.
  • El propósito de los comentarios es entablar el diálogo constructivo.
  • Por favor brinde su propio nombre completo.
  • Sea respetuoso. Si ofrece críticas, enfóquese en las ideas del otro, no en sus motivos, su persona, su carácter o su fe. Considere la viga en su propio ojo antes de apretar ‘Intro’
Los comentarios son analizados. Aquellos comentarios que contengan contenido que se considere obsceno, calumnioso, difamatorio u odioso hacia algún individuo o grupo no será aprobado. Los comentarios permanecerán abiertos por 10 días.

1 Comment

  1. Peter Graber
    May 10, 2017 at 8:21 am · Reply

    So you are questioning my lifelong career as a “know-it-all?”
    🙂
    Well done.
    Peter

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore categories

Search

3145 Benham Ave. Suite 1
Elkhart, IN 46517

718 N. Main St.
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (866) 866-2872
  • News & Media
  • Español
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Convention
  • Resources
  • Give
  • Staff
  • Employment
©2020 Mennonite Church USA   |   Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive news and blogs compiled into one weekly email.   SUBSCRIBE