Call Me the Fool
Fools of the Light
I’ve listened to the world’s geniuses on podcasts, brilliant and blind.
I’ve sat in churches where clever replaced holy.
I’ve heard men praised for their intellect—while their spirits were starving.
But the deeper I go with Jesus Christ, the more I realize:
To the world, the truly wise will always look like fools.
The World Honors the Wrong Kind of Wisdom
The best minds of the age win awards, lead companies, write manifestos—yet they still fear death, mock God, and enthrone self as king.
They speak with brilliance but walk in blindness. They quote philosophy while choking on pride. They frantically seek to outsmart and outspend death, chasing a hollow and sorrowful immortality through transhumanism—as if silicon and code could redeem a soul.
“This wisdom does not descend from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
— James 3:15
The Philokalia doesn’t flinch. It says plainly:
“Worldly-wise people are fools… blind to the divine light.”
They call the cross foolish. They mock the saints. They crown themselves wise—yet they walk in darkness and call it progress.
A Personal Story of Searching
For 30 years, I chased the wisdom of the world. I ran hard after careers, promotions, titles—always thinking the next step would bring peace. But the higher I climbed, the more empty I became. I was lost, even in success.
I drank from the world’s wells—its logic, its praise, its treasure—but it left me dry every time. I was chasing vapor. An endless path to nowhere.
Then God called me. And everything changed.
I stopped running after the world and turned to walk in His Way. I began reading His Word morning and night, not as a duty, but as bread for my soul. His truth slowly rewired the way I thought, the way I lived, the way I saw everything.
Now I’m no longer thirsty.
Like the tree in Psalm 1, I’ve been planted by streams of living water. I’m learning to delight in His Word, to meditate on it day and night. And in that place—rooted in Him—I’ve found what the world could never give: peace, purpose, and fruit that lasts.
God’s Real Ones Will Be Misunderstood
“Those taught by God will be regarded as fools.”
That’s not just history. That’s your life if you’re walking in the Spirit.
The deeper you go with God:
- The less understood you will be by the average Joe Christian.
- Even pastors may misread or dismiss the Spirit’s work in your life.
- The more you’ll be accused, misjudged, dismissed.
You’ll be called extreme.
You’ll be labeled irrelevant.
You’ll be a fool in their eyes.
But in reality—you are tasting what they’ve never known.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:14
The Blessings They’ve Never Tasted
When the divine light fills you, your appetite changes.
The things of the world seem hollow and meaningless.
The words of man sound empty.
The things of God are exciting and alive.
“They think the ones living in God’s light are out of their minds—
but the truth is, they’re the ones deceived, because they’ve never tasted what God gives.”
— St. Peter of Damascus
The Mark of the True Ones
Jesus was mocked, stripped, and crucified—foolish in the eyes of Rome.
The apostles were accused of madness at Pentecost.
The saints and martyrs were jeered, imprisoned, burned alive—misunderstood to the end.
The world has never crowned the sons of light as wise.
But heaven knows who they are.
“We are fools for Christ’s sake…”
— 1 Corinthians 4:10
✨ Call to Action
Today, ask yourself: Where am I chasing the world’s wisdom?
Then take one step into the light:
- Confess where you’ve craved applause.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to purify your motives.
- Read one passage from The Philokalia this week and meditate on it.
Don’t be afraid to look like a fool. Be afraid to miss the truth.
About St. Peter of Damascus
St. Peter of Damascus was a 12th-century Christian monk, ascetic, and spiritual writer known for his deep teachings on prayer, humility, and spiritual discernment. His writings, preserved in The Philokalia, emphasize radical repentance, the inner life, and the need to reject worldly wisdom in order to receive divine illumination. Though little is known about his life, his words have shaped Orthodox spiritual tradition for centuries and continue to guide believers hungry for the true knowledge of God.
What Is The Philokalia?
The Philokalia is a historic collection of writings from early Christian believers—pastors, monks, and spiritual teachers—written between the 4th and 15th centuries. The word Philokalia means “love of what is beautiful,” pointing to the beauty of a life shaped by God’s presence.
These writings aren’t just theology—they’re spiritual training. They emphasize:
- deep repentance,
- focused prayer,
- inner stillness before God,
- and the ongoing battle for purity of heart.
Many of the authors speak about the power of short, focused prayers like the Jesus Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
This prayer isn’t magic—it’s a way to stay anchored in the presence of God through the chaos of daily life.
