they are less difficult to him who hopes,
they are easier to him who loves,
and still more easy to him who practices and perseveres
in these three virtues. ]
- brother lawrence
i wonder why we have given up the pursuit of virtue. why have we stopped asking God that we might be virtuous? we could be saints, if only we believed. we could be saints, if only we practiced. but we have contented ourselves with far less than saintliness. we have counted the cost, and the cost is too great. we have believed the lie that following Jesus is easy, and so we have thrown out the difficult. we have made idols of our freedom, and so have scorned all rules. but it has not always been so. there have been many men and women who shouted, "no! i will not believe the lies. i will not be seduced by this world. i will not settle for a mediocre faith. surely i would rather die and be with my Lord. surely i must live and die with my Lord." and i believe that there are still those men and women, and that their voices are still heard. and also is that voice still heard, which biddeth, come, abide in me. and do we abide?
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