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photos by
                                                                          Scott Greenwalt





                         living in
         Community










                                       by Jennifer Denning








                          o back in time to the year A.D. 420. A Syrian monk
                     gat 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.





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