Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Accidie

Accidie — The Noontime Demon (The Writer’s Inner Life)

August 22, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

the noontime demon

I’m working on making my working life happy and productive without having to punch a clock or meet institutional deadlines. So my advisors at the moment are the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Christians who moved out to the fourth century Egyptian desert for an isolated life of prayer. Sometimes they hit it straight out of the park, not just […]

Filed Under: Monasticism, Saints, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: Accidie, Antony the Great, Desert Fathers, Evagrius of Pontus, Evagrius Ponticus, Saint anthony, The noontime demon

Find Your Rhythm (The Writer’s Inner Life)

August 8, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

Find your rhythm

Having big chunks of time to work on a creative project is a gift. It also brings problems. How do you keep at work with no looming deadlines, no timecard to punch, and no boss? As I move fully into writing, speaking, and other independent work, I’m facing those challenges daily. Of course I’m facing them my […]

Filed Under: Saints, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: Accidie, Anthony the Great, Antony the Great, Desert Fathers

How to Really Enjoy Your Summer Vacation: Advice from a Fourth Century Monk

May 13, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Did you get to the end of vacation last year and wonder why you were disappointed? Big expectations of adventure and rest swallowed up by Angry Birds and email? Time think ahead, even though Memorial Day is weeks away. Classes are over for the semester (though a two-week Doctor of Ministry intensive is looming). Time to think about Summer before […]

Filed Under: Monasticism, Prayer, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Accidie, Desert Fathers, Monasticism, Redeeming the time, Rhythm, Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Self-management, St. Anthony, Vacation

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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