By Fr.
Sergius Nezhbort
We keep preparing for the spiritual life but never
embark on it. We are waiting for the best time or the most appropriate day. We
expect that on Monday (or as soon as the Great Lent begins) we will finally be
able to do something but for now, we feel that we aren’t prepared enough. We
may spend years—or our whole lives—waiting for something to happen. That is why
we shouldn’t be waiting for the most beneficial time to start a spiritual life.
The best time is now. Our spiritual life may not be as heroic as the lives of
St Anthony the Great or St Macarius the Great. It may be way simpler. First and
foremost, you should attune to the right wave.
Sometimes people are busy doing something but
gradually lose respect and reverence for what they do. They bake prosphoras,
paint icons, and embroider vestments. At first, they get up early in the
morning thinking, “I’m going to do great things today!” Unfortunately, when you
keep doing those great things for years, they turn into a monotonous routine
and you stop seeing the beauty that you used to admire because you are as
accustomed to it as fish is to the water. The beauty still exists but that
person doesn’t notice it because he is wrongly attuned.
You should keep tuning yourself in and inspiring
yourself. Say to yourself “This day is going to be the day when I am finally
able to do something no matter how small or insignificant it might seem. Even
if I don’t want to do it right now, it is going to be beneficial for me in the
long run.” There was a sister who came to me for advice (I hope I don’t let out
her secret), and she told me, “They’ve invited me to sing in the choir early in
the morning. I think I should decline the invitation because I don’t want to
get up so early.” I exclaimed, “My dear sister, praise the Lord that someone needs
you so much that they invited you to sing with them. You could be sitting
around in your house or sleeping till lunch but it would mean that no one needs
you.”
I mean, thank God that people still need us. If anyone
asks for your help today, rejoice and say to yourself, “Isn’t it great that
someone still needs me?” And hurry up. This is what is going to make you happy.
You’ll be wrong if you respond to an invitation with “Oh I wish you didn’t call
me! I’m so tired and busy…”
Whenever the Lord calls us to do anything, let’s do it
to the best of our ability. That’s when our spiritual life will flourish.
June 12, 2018
St.
Elisabeth Convent
CONVERSATION