Also, what man or woman soever he be; in what degree soever he liveth in holy Church, priest, clerk or layman, widow, maid or wife that will for the love of God and salvation of his, or her, own soul forsake all the worships and likings of this world, in the world, in his or her heart truly and fully betwixt God and themselves, and all unnecessary business and earthly things, even to what they have bare need of, and offer up their will entirely to be His servants, in the constant exercise of devout prayers and holy thoughts, with other good deeds that they may do bodily and ghostly, and keep their will whole to God stedfastly, all such are God’s special servants in holy Church.(John Climacus)

Very purposefully I choose to read the spiritual writings of contemplatives, monastics, and mystics. All emphasize forsaking "unnecessary business and earthly things, even to what they have bare need of."

And each time I read this teaching I resist and argue. They are Platonic, advocating a pure form of perfect truth. I am Aristotelian, trying to find some middle way that can be broadly applied.

But as Aristotle was a student of Plato, I am a student of theirs. While I seek another expression of truth, I do not deny the truth they teach. Indeed, they have demonstrated their truth in how they lived their lives. I am still seeking.