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photos by
Scott Greenwalt
Living in
Community
by Jennifer Denning
Go back in time to the year A.D. 420. A Syrian monk
at that time decided to live out his faith in God by
isolating himself from the rest of the world. Other people
have done this throughout history; we refer to them as
hermits. But Simeon—who became known as Saint
Simeon Stylites or Simeon the elder—took the idea of
isolation to what we might call the extreme.
He chose to live away from people, perched atop a
pillar, at first 6 feet tall, later extended to about 50 feet.
There he resided for 39 years, exposed to the weather,
sitting or standing in a small space where only a railing
prevented him from falling to his death. His only access
to the world around him was a ladder, which his followers
used to bring him just enough food to survive. 1
Reflecting on the way Simeon lived his life, you’ve
got to admire his discipline and self-denial. This guy
took his faith seriously and sacrificed radically to show
his dedication to God. Still, you have to wonder if his
extreme devotion was a little misguided. His example
raises the question, “Does God really intend for His
people to live unto themselves, all alone?” The words of
Scripture indicate otherwise.
28 | jul 2009 ec magazine ec magazine jul 2009 | 29