I would continue thoughts about St. John’s 24th Step on the Ladder that he created to teach his monks about spiritual development. The 24th Step is Meekness/Simplicity. Many think of simplicity as simple-mindedness and ignorance, but this is not what it means. Learning and education are not to be shunned. The intellect is not an enemy of faith. While it is certainly true that these things are not necessary for one to acquire virtue, it must be said that for someone who has been endowed with intelligence and a capacity for learning, it is wrong to spurn this gift, as though God wanted only our hearts and not our minds also. As C.S. Lewis put it, God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. It is true that clever people are usually more prone to self-conceit than are simple folk, but there are many saints who were highly educated but, notwithstanding their remarkable intellect, acquired the virtue of simplicity. Furthermore, simple people can be just as proud as clever people. St. John wrote:

If knowledge can cause most people to become vain, perhaps ignorance and lack of learning can make them humble. Yet now and again you find men who pride themselves on their ignorance.

The virtue of simplicity is not measured by one’s IQ, education or intellectual potential. Simplicity is guilelessness, honesty and integrity. Often simple-minded people are more advanced in this virtue than others because they have the gift of single-mindedness: instead of sitting there thinking things over, they simply focus all their attention on one simple thing and go for it. Perhaps this is why our Lord said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

I truly believe that we all do well to take time and reflect upon this 24th Step. Simplicity is truly, in many ways, next to Godliness.