Solitude and Silence: Arsenius: Flee, Be Silent, Be at Peace

Abba Arsenius, who had been a tutor in the imperial court of Rome before becoming a Desert monk, received a divine instruction that became one of the most famous sayings in the desert tradition: "Arsenius, flee, be silent, be at peace." This threefold counsel -- flight from the world's noise, silence in body and mind, interior peace as the fruit -- summarized the entire desert path.

Arsenius took the counsel literally, becoming known as the most reclusive of the Desert Fathers. When visitors came, he would often hide or refuse to speak. Yet his silence was not antisocial but deeply loving -- he was guarding the interior space where God's voice could be heard. A brother once asked him why he fled from people. He replied: "God knows that I love you, but I cannot live with God and with men."

Practical application: Take Arsenius's three instructions as a daily micro-practice. At some point each day: flee (step away from noise and stimulation for five minutes); be silent (stop speaking and stop consuming words); be at peace (rest in God's presence without agenda). Even brief daily practice of this threefold pattern builds the capacity for deeper solitude.