Leaving the Empire: Lessons from the early Christian desert communities (180)

Explore the fascinating world of the desert elders with Lisa Colón DeLay, uncovering their history, practices, and relevance today. Learn about early Christian asceticism, forgotten female leaders, and spiritual practices that can inspire modern life. Lisa Colón DeLay is a repeat guest on Compass. We previously talked to her about her book “The Wild Land Within” which is about cultivating wholeness and healing through spiritual practices. She has now released “The Way of The Desert Elders”. Lisa is a coach in spiritual formation and creates products and resources related to spiritual formation. Since 2015, she has produced the Spark My Muse podcast featuring luminaries, authors, and her own work. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Desert Elders 02:31 Christian Nationalism and Its Impact 05:44 The Reaction of the Desert Elders 09:14 Life in the Desert: Community and Mentorship 12:40 Transformation Stories of the Desert Elders 16:48 Modern Applications of Desert Wisdom 19:37 The Video Game: A New Pilgrimage Experience 23:12 Further Reading and Resources Find episode notes and other interesting episodes of Compass at www.umc.org/compass