A great reflection. I appreciate that correlation with the prayer and our progress through the spiritual life. I've said (and believe) that God gave me my wife and Children for my salvation. I used to imagine I'd like a single and solitary life, focusing only on God. But now, being married and having 4 children, I realize I would have just ended up deluded and imaging myself a good person. I'm reminded daily now, thanks to my family, just how selfish, impatient and unloving I can be. But, thanks be to God, that revelation is a continuous opportunity for repentance that I might have missed otherwise.
It's easy to read the lives of the Saints and imagine achieving those great heights or prayer and spirituality, but also easy to gloss over the hardship, suffering and struggle they went through to get there. I think often of the quote, "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." There seems to be a parallel there with our life of Faith.
So I feel impotent which leads to frantic busy-ness because I want to be ‘in control’ and then I boast about all the useless stuff that I did? … Sounds about right. And my mutterings are nowhere near that polite, but maybe that’s just me. I do appreciate the translations though. We seem to lose so much meaning when we use modern languages instead. Learning to swim requires deep water and typical Biblical / homily exposure doesn’t provide that. Much appreciated, sir.
There’s also another observation I’ve noticed throughout my life. Despite our differences on an issue or a stance on a particular subject we always have much more in common with those we disagree with than we have differences. It comes down to patience and a willingness to listen and learn from those with varying views.
Each of us approaches a question with more greys than black/white through our experiences. Failure to listen attentively to the hows and whys underlying our and their conclusions reached is more responsible for the resentment and contempt seething in today’s world than anything else. In order to grow and understand our own existence we must be willing to take an active interest in the views of others. No one person has all the answers.
"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" one this prayer descends from the head to the heart it cleanses the heart of secret sins: “Cleanse me from my secret faults,” writes the psalmist (Psalm 19:12), as though to say that through much prayer and faith, and by turning completely to God, we are able, with the help of the Spirit, to conquer them. But this on condition that we too strive against them and keep strict watch over our heart (Proverbs 4:23). St. Makarios of Egypt”
I appreciate this as I am thinking of writing some pissy message about Earth Day to people who are VERY CONCERNED about climate change, but couldn't be bothered to know what watershed they inhabit. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on ME, a SINNER.
Grace🔥 and Peace🕊️ to you on this ☀️ 🌹Friday of the Akathist, 2024 Anno Domini. ⛲ ✨ 🎶 Most Holy Theotokos save us! Saint Ephraim of Syria, pray for us to Jesus Christ our God that our souls be healed and saved. ☦️🕯️📿 🌐 ⚓ Ora et Labora ⛪🌙 🌴 😌 ☘️ ❤️🩹
A great reflection. I appreciate that correlation with the prayer and our progress through the spiritual life. I've said (and believe) that God gave me my wife and Children for my salvation. I used to imagine I'd like a single and solitary life, focusing only on God. But now, being married and having 4 children, I realize I would have just ended up deluded and imaging myself a good person. I'm reminded daily now, thanks to my family, just how selfish, impatient and unloving I can be. But, thanks be to God, that revelation is a continuous opportunity for repentance that I might have missed otherwise.
It's easy to read the lives of the Saints and imagine achieving those great heights or prayer and spirituality, but also easy to gloss over the hardship, suffering and struggle they went through to get there. I think often of the quote, "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." There seems to be a parallel there with our life of Faith.
So I feel impotent which leads to frantic busy-ness because I want to be ‘in control’ and then I boast about all the useless stuff that I did? … Sounds about right. And my mutterings are nowhere near that polite, but maybe that’s just me. I do appreciate the translations though. We seem to lose so much meaning when we use modern languages instead. Learning to swim requires deep water and typical Biblical / homily exposure doesn’t provide that. Much appreciated, sir.
There’s also another observation I’ve noticed throughout my life. Despite our differences on an issue or a stance on a particular subject we always have much more in common with those we disagree with than we have differences. It comes down to patience and a willingness to listen and learn from those with varying views.
Each of us approaches a question with more greys than black/white through our experiences. Failure to listen attentively to the hows and whys underlying our and their conclusions reached is more responsible for the resentment and contempt seething in today’s world than anything else. In order to grow and understand our own existence we must be willing to take an active interest in the views of others. No one person has all the answers.
"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" one this prayer descends from the head to the heart it cleanses the heart of secret sins: “Cleanse me from my secret faults,” writes the psalmist (Psalm 19:12), as though to say that through much prayer and faith, and by turning completely to God, we are able, with the help of the Spirit, to conquer them. But this on condition that we too strive against them and keep strict watch over our heart (Proverbs 4:23). St. Makarios of Egypt”
Excerpt From
Philokalia—The Eastern Christian Spiritual Texts: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
Smith, Allyne
This material may be protected by copyright.
I appreciate this as I am thinking of writing some pissy message about Earth Day to people who are VERY CONCERNED about climate change, but couldn't be bothered to know what watershed they inhabit. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on ME, a SINNER.
God Bless you! This is beautiful and you are as beautiful for writing it. Thank you.
Grace🔥 and Peace🕊️ to you on this ☀️ 🌹Friday of the Akathist, 2024 Anno Domini. ⛲ ✨ 🎶 Most Holy Theotokos save us! Saint Ephraim of Syria, pray for us to Jesus Christ our God that our souls be healed and saved. ☦️🕯️📿 🌐 ⚓ Ora et Labora ⛪🌙 🌴 😌 ☘️ ❤️🩹
Re: The second vice, periergia (despair), means “running all around in a crazed busyness.”
Is that a good translation? "Despair" means a good deal more than that: It is a rejection of Hope.