From Father Thomas Hopko:

Finally, we are taught that to discover God’s will for us, we must be faithful to Him where we are, faithful to and in the conditions in which He has placed us.

One of the greatest obstacles to the discovery of one’s vocation in life, which is a clear expression of our disobedience and self-will, is the desire to be someone else, someplace else, sometime else. We have all heard people say that if only they lived in another place, or in another time, or with other people…then they could be holy. Or, if only they were married. Or, if only they were not married. If only this, and if only that!

We must come to see how sinful such an attitude is, how crazy and deluded. It is simply blasphemy. And it may well be the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which Christ says cannot be forgiven, for it dares to tell God that our failures in life are His fault for making us the way we are. (Cf. Mt. 12:31; Lk. 12:10)

Finding One's Calling in Life by Fr Thomas Hopko

Alice,

Thanks for posting this!

We often think we are blaming other people, the devil, our "luck," "the fates" or something like that--never that we are blaming God. But then, do we really believe in God? Then we realize just how hard it is to believe in an All-Knowing, All-Just, All-Powerful and All-Loving God--our experience in this world still insists that such a God cannot be!

For myself, I can say that my worst times spiritually were times of extreme blandness, in which "does not apply" seemed to be the only way of expressing the relationship between my reality and the truth of our Faith. In some cases, it took quite a long time for me to realize that this was a deception, and that God was indeed actively present, even when it seemed quite the opposite.


Peace,
Deacon Richard

Dear Alice,

thanks for posting these wise words. Accepting daily life with its joys and sorrows, disappointments and (usually small) successes is, I believe, a form of true asceticism.

Gerontissa Gavriella

One thing is education: that we learn how to love God.

The greatest part of my prayer here and for years now is Thankgiving. What else should I ask, when I have everything?

Nothing is cheaper than money.

Better hell here than in the other world.

If you have love for the whole world the whole world is beautiful.

The language of God is silence.

Love is a bomb the destroys all evil.

Some want to go to the Resurrection without passing by way of Gologatha.

“The first is the smile; the second is tears. The third is to touch. The fourth is prayer, and the fifth is love. With these five languages I go all around the world.”

Worry is for those who do not have Faith.

Love is only found on the Cross.

Relationship is difficult when "I" stands above "You".

As God loves you, so does He love your enemy.

“The first is the smile; the second is tears. The third is to touch. The fourth is prayer, and the fifth is love. With these five languages I go all around the world.”

ON THE CROSS:

"As I have been telling you, we should take all our sorrow and place it at the Feet of Christ. Because He suffered on the Cross for our sins, and for our sorrows, and for our problems, and for all the gloom of our souls. For everything! And when you remember that the Blood of our Lord is cleansing us from everything, that is the end of it. Nothing of these exists anymore. If you take the time to think through this thoroughly, then you will understand. There are limits to what we can do. We cannot give help to all. We cannot be physically present both here and there. In spirit, of course, we can be everywhere. This is exactly why you must convert your sensibilities into prayer. Something wonderful will happen then. Because you could take in your heart all those in need of help and place them at the Feet of Christ, who was crucified for you, for me, for all the world."

ON THANK YOU LORD:

"When we become truly conscious of the gifts of God, we no longer have the time to ask for anything. We keep going and saying Thank you ... Thank you ... Thank you ... Thank you ... We see a flower ... Thank you. We see a glass of milk ... Thank you. Thank you ... for everything. And such a joy enters our life that many, even of those that are close to us, cannot understand what's all this. When I lived in England, sometimes people asked: What's up? Why are you so happy? I would always answer: Because I am alive and I see you ... Good day to you!"

The Elder was once asked, "My daughter is living a dissolute life, how can I save her?" To which he responded: "Only with your own holiness. A parent's holiness saves their children..

Elder Porphyrios--very recently deceased

(for more of his life and wisdom, read: 'Wounded by Love', the life and wisdom of Elder Porphyrios)