Grace comes only to the soul that has suffered to the end. I know very well the tragic situation in which you find yourself. I remember to this day the difficult struggles I had with the devil...
"...this tragic situation...When the increasing pains of my soul had seemingly reached their pinnacle, then not through abstract philosophical thoughts, but through a feeling of the heart, alive and deep, I came to know the value of the human soul, I came to know that it is worth more than the entire world."
Because nowadays psychology took the front seat, I want to say that besides the abstract philosophical thoughts, I would add the current psychological thoughts, which many times, depending on the method and orientation (towards God or against) can split a person's understanding of the "tragic situation" one may go through. I think that we have to be very careful here so that we will be able to discriminate between what is philosophical, psychological or spiritual. Life without God is tragic. Life without purpose is tragic, too. Life in general has times of tragic situations, which draw one closer to God or not at all. Who can understand st. Sophrony's tragic separation from God? The desperate personal helplessness? The deepest desire of union with God? Such feelings are rarely understood in our society based on busyness, fun and chill. It may be easily interpreted as psychopathology of the worst kind. I think it is extremely difficult and also imperious that we pray for guidance, for discernment through the Grace of God, so that we will not "philosophize" or "psychologize" spirituality and not spiritualize psychology or philosophy. Let us aspire to reach this "feeling of the heart, alive and deep"- the deep inner guide St. Sophrony talks about.
Thank you for posting this, Ioan! Like a balm for the soul...I needed it.
"...this tragic situation...When the increasing pains of my soul had seemingly reached their pinnacle, then not through abstract philosophical thoughts, but through a feeling of the heart, alive and deep, I came to know the value of the human soul, I came to know that it is worth more than the entire world."
Because nowadays psychology took the front seat, I want to say that besides the abstract philosophical thoughts, I would add the current psychological thoughts, which many times, depending on the method and orientation (towards God or against) can split a person's understanding of the "tragic situation" one may go through. I think that we have to be very careful here so that we will be able to discriminate between what is philosophical, psychological or spiritual. Life without God is tragic. Life without purpose is tragic, too. Life in general has times of tragic situations, which draw one closer to God or not at all. Who can understand st. Sophrony's tragic separation from God? The desperate personal helplessness? The deepest desire of union with God? Such feelings are rarely understood in our society based on busyness, fun and chill. It may be easily interpreted as psychopathology of the worst kind. I think it is extremely difficult and also imperious that we pray for guidance, for discernment through the Grace of God, so that we will not "philosophize" or "psychologize" spirituality and not spiritualize psychology or philosophy. Let us aspire to reach this "feeling of the heart, alive and deep"- the deep inner guide St. Sophrony talks about.