Leo Tolstoy (8-28-1828 to 11-20-1910)

I admit that I am guilty, and vile, and worthy of contempt for failing to carry out Christ's teaching.  At the same time, not to justify myself, but simply to explain my lack of consistency, I say:  "Look at my life now and compare it to my former life.  You will see that I am trying to live out the truth I proclaim.  True, I have not fulfilled a fraction of Christ's will, and I am ashamed of this, but I have failed to fulfill his Word not because I do not wish to, but because I have been unable to.  Teach me how to escape from the net of temptations that surrounds me, help me, and I will fulfill Christ's teachings.  Even without help I wish and hope to fulfill them.  Attack me, I do this myself, but attach me rather than the path I follow, which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lies.  If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way simply because I am staggering side to side?


"If it is not the right way, then show me another way.  But if I stagger and lose the way, you must help me and keep me on the true path, just as I am ready to support you.  Do not mislead me, do not be glad that I have gotten lost, do not gleefully shout, 'Look at him!  He said he was going home, but there he is crawling into a bog!'  No, do not gloat, but give me your help and support.  For you are not devils in the swamp, but people like me who are seeking the way home.  For I am alone and it cannot be that I wish to go into the swamp.  Help me, my heart is breaking in despair that we have all lost our way."


So this is my attitude to Christ's teaching.  I try to fulfill it with all I've got.  I not only repent for each failure, but also beg for help in fulfilling it.  And I joyfully welcome anyone who, like me, is looking for the path; and I listen to him.

Living Water

Christ shows us the way to life, and those who embark on this way are like a fountain of living water bubbling forth from the earth, which steadily moves in all directions in spite of the obstacles blocking it.  One who follows Christ's way can just as little ask what he must positively do as the spring of water flowing from the earth can ask such a question.  It flows, refreshing the soil, the earth, the trees, the birds, the animals, and people.  The same is true for the one who genuinely believes in Christ.

Leo Tolstoy

Brother, who, for you, is Christ?

For me, Christ is he by whom I live, but also the one for whom I, with you, am searching.

Br. Roger of Taize

Trust as the Basis of Discipleship

Following Christ with a steadfast heart does not mean lighting fireworks that flare up brightly and then go out.  It means setting out, and then remaining, on a road of trust that can last our whole life long.

Br. Roger of Taize

Forgiveness

You forgive not in order to change the other person, but simply to follow Christ.

Br. Roger of Taize

Obedience

“We [parents] want virtuous obedience. We want to train the habit of control, doing what is right because it is right. Children need to learn to focus on God’s will, not their own and on a Spirit-inspired control, not on self-control. Remember, a mature adult will die to self and be controlled by the Lord. We are training our children to become mature adults.”

Elizabeth Foss

True Discipline

“Discipline is not punishment – What is discipline? Look at the word; there is no hint of punishment in it. A disciple is a follower, and discipline is the state of the follower… He who would draw disciples does not trust to force; but to these three things:
To the attraction of his doctrine
To the persuasion of his presentation
To the enthusiasm of his disciples;
So the parent has teachings of the perfect life which he knows how to present continually with winning force until the children are quickened with such zeal for virtue and holiness as carries them forward with leaps and bounds.”

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