And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
“Nikolai was born Nikolai Matveevich Rynin on 22 May 1777 in Vologda, Russia. Born into a wealthy merchant family, Nicholai was taught to read and write by his parents and from his youth desired to serve God and his fellow man. As he reached the age of majority, he rejected wealth and gave away his portion of his inheritance to the poor. He went around Vologda dressed as a beggar and lived off charity.
Nicholai spent his days attending services at various churches throughout the city, and at night he spent his time in solitude and prayer, generally in some place where on one could find him. Later he began to roam from city to city, spending time not only in Vologda but also in Kadnikov and Totma. He is remembered for always wearing a white shirt and a blue canvas balakhon (a kind of loose overall), a long white shirt, and leather straps on his legs.
He almost always carried a large staff and he walked and would go hatless in both winter and summer, though sometimes he would tie a towel around his head in bitter cold. Nicholai’s voice was said to be very husky, gravelly, and even garbled, but like the prophets of old, his speech typically carried special meaning, the significance of which would sometimes not be revealed until later…
Nicholai carried with him various things he would give to those whom he encountered, always providing items of special significance for their particular situation. To a hungry person he would give food, to someone experiencing grief he might give coal, to others bread, and for the children always sweets. He was a great friend to children and was much loved by them.
Nicholai maintained the heart of a child throughout his life. Thought he could be strict in his counsel to adults who practiced unrighteousness, he was very kind to all children and they generally followed him about with purity of heart.
Nikolai of Vologda (1777-1837) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 83-85.
This guy lived with intentionality toward others and hospitality toward children. That’s my two-part takeaway from his example. And what a good set of takeaways!
He dressed simply, ministered to the needs of people, and always had something sweet for children. I notice something in these two traits especially as I too have a prophetic ministry.
It can be easy for a prophet to lose childlike faith when engaging adults practicing unrighteousness. Not Nicholai. And that’s part of why I like to spend time with my friend, John.
Regardless of the craziness of life and people, John (with whom I am staying in Wisconsin this week), like Nicholai, exhibits consistency, faithfulness, and humility with his intentional living.
I want to encourage you to block time every year to spend with a holy fool for Christ. Spend time with him or her and like the children in Nicholai’s story, follow “with purity of heart.”
You will grow closer to God. You will learn how to make every day count with special meaning and significance. And you will maintain your childlike faith and hospitality toward children in the process.