Early in the the 4rd century, in the desert of Roman Egypt, there was a monastery. Inside the walls of this monastery, monks worked out their salvation with fear and trembling.
An old monk, Father Poemos, sat with a young recruit, Philistus from Greece.
“I find it impossible to be a monk.”, said Philistus. “The work is incredible, the brothers work day and night. The Office, that never-ending prayer, I cannot keep. I cannot fast, I cannot pray, I cannot attend Liturgy, I cannot keep silence, I have not the will to read Scripture. I am restless and without will. A man divided. Please Father, it is my desire in my heart to be a monk, but the work of salvation is too heavy for me to bear.”
Father Poemos, hearing this, sat in silence.
“Father, you are a man advanced in wisdom and perfected by prudence. Tell me a word by which I may live.”, said Philistus.
Poemos said, “If I speak a word to you, will you hear it?”
“Yes Father”, said Philistus.
Poemos said, “Go and sit in your cell for three days. The brothers will prepare meals for you. On the fourth day, if you wish to leave, I will bless you and send you back to Greece.”
Philistus rose immediately and went to his cell. In his first hour alone, he writhed in pain for he was still restless. On the second hour, seeing leaves by his side, he decided to work for a little by weaving baskets. When he tired of work, he sat down again to rest. After six hours, he prayed to God for strength and for the resolve that his fellow brothers had.
When he tired of praying, he rested. Again, after feeling restless, he read Scripture. “There must be a word”, he thought, “by which I may live.”
On the second day he arose and continued his work. A knock came to the door for food but Philistus, rapt in work, did not hear it. He continued in the day as he had done before, this time adding a few minutes after every task to give thanks to God and sit in quiet meditation.
On the third day he became weary. But remembering his promise to Father Poemos he did not leave his cell. He rested and sat in silence. He read Scripture and prayed the Office.
On the morning of the fourth day he arose, went out of cell, and found Father Poemos in the hall. He sat with him for a few minutes as Poemos was deep in prayer.
Father Poemos lifted his eyes to him and Philistus spoke saying, “Father forgive me for I have failed. The days past in drudgery. I was restless and my heart was wavering. I know now that I cannot be a monk. The work that the men in this monastery do is far beyond my abilities.”
Father Poemos began to question him saying, “Have you worked?”
“Yes Father, every day because of my restlessness I worked.”
“Have you prayed?”
“Yes Father, every day because of my weakness I prayed.”
“Have you read Scripture?”
“Yes Father, to find a word by which I may live I read Scripture.”
“Have you fasted?”
“Yes Father, because of my carelessness in keeping to the schedule I fasted.”
“Have you kept silence?”
“Yes Father, though my mind was restless I did as you asked and stayed silently in my cell.”
“Then”, said Father Poemos, “You are already a monk. If you can but sit in your cell, all the wonders of our Lord will come upon you and remain with you forever.”