Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
“Andrew was born into a devout but illiterate peasant family in Ust-Titma, Transvolga. He became educated by going to church and, after both his parents died, becoming a novice in the Galich Monastery. The abbot at the monastery was known for possessing great insight, and he encouraged Andrew to pursue the difficult podvig of becoming a fool for Christ…
Andrew therefore left the permanence of the monastery to become a wayfarer, wandering from village to village, but frequently returning to the Galich Monastery to meet with his spiritual father…
Whenever anyone would give him anything, whether food or clothing, he would immediately give it away to the poor, keeping nothing for himself. Like many other fools for Christ, Andrew would spend all night in prayer after playing the fool throughout the day.”
Andrew of Totma (1638-1673) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 15-16.
The rest of the story of Andrew recounts him as a wonder worker, but I felt like this was the best part of his story. Notice the sources of his power. We can draw strength from these same places.
He got educated at church, found a spiritual mentor at the monastery, prayed all night to gain strength to play the fool by day, and whenever good things came to him, he shared them generously.
Oh, and the word “podvig” in Russian points to a lifestyle of heroic good deeds. By choosing this path, everyone knew that the good things that flowed from Andrew came from God’s strength and capacity, not his own.
I preach today in Cartagena, Colombia. I do so as a fool for Christ. I am not a pastor of a congregation but I have preached 12 times this year. I can identify with Andrew. Any blessing that comes to me, I want to share.
And I find power from God in prayer in the silence of my hotel room. Writing daily posts for almost 16 years in a row has been a podvig that has blessed me beyond calculation. What podvig does God want you to pursue?