Here is a
parable passed on to us by the Holy Fathers. Imagine a circle on the floor. In
the middle of this circle there is its center. Straight lines that connect the
center and the circumference are called radiuses. Now listen attentively to
what I have to say: let’s imagine that this circle is our world, with God at
the very center. The radiuses that go from the circumference to the center are
the ways of life of human beings.
The more
the saints go inside the circle, eager to get closer to God, the closer they
become both to God and to one another; the closer they become to God, the
closer they are to one another; the closer they become to one another, the
closer they are to God.
Similarly,
when people move away from God, it is obvious that they become farther from God
and from one another at the same time; the farther they become from one
another, the farther they are from God.
This is
the nature of love: we are isolated from our neighbors as long as we stay away
from God and don’t love Him. If we love God, then we will unite with our
neighbors in love to the same extent that we become closer to God by loving
him; and we will be united with God to the same extent that we are united with
our neighbors.
By Saint Abba Dorotheus
Translated
by The Catalog of Good Deeds
CONVERSATION