133. Всякая вещь на своем месте успокаивается

We see that all things in their own places calm down. The fire goes upward, and there it finds peace; the air in the air calms; an earthly thing goes to the earth, and every body on earth calms down; the fish seeks water and calms down in it; the waters flow into the sea and calm down there; in a word, every thing finds peace in its own nature. And although she is hindered, she strives for her place and peace. Fire, although it deviates, strives upward; Every heaviness, although it is thrown upward, nevertheless turns back to the earth as to its place and rest. So the human soul calms down in God alone, and cannot find rest for itself anywhere except God alone. God alone is peace for the soul. The soul is an immaterial spirit, having the image and likeness of God in itself: where can it have peace, if not in its Creator, as its Prototype? It is nowhere so favorable for God Himself to live as in the human soul, as in His image and likeness. Likewise, the human soul cannot be satisfied with anything other than with its Creator, and cannot find peace anywhere other than in the most kindly Divinity. For what can calm and satisfy the soul as a spiritual and God-like being? Is it food, clothing, precious clothing, a house, wealth, the beauty of this world, high honor, sweetness and all visible pleasure? No! The soul cannot calm down and be satisfied with any of this. All this is perishable, but the soul is imperishable. This is temporary, but the soul is eternal. This is visible, but the soul is invisible. The soul has no resemblance to all this: how can it calm down and be satisfied with what is unlike and alien to it? The spirit with the body, and the immortal with the mortal, and the incorruptible with the corruptible, and the immaterial with the material, and the invisible with the visible cannot in any way be satisfied. There is something else with which the soul calms down and is content. Good is the light of the sun, moon and stars, but bodily good, the body enlightens. Good is air, but bodily good, the body revives. Good is bread and all food, but physical good strengthens the body. Good is drink, but bodily good, the body comforts. Good is water, but physical good, it washes and cools the body. Good is a home, but physical good, the body rests. Good is fire, but physical goodness warms the body. Good is clothing, but physical good clothes the body. Good is the fruit of trees and herbs, but physical good, the body eats it. Good is honey, but bodily good, it delights the body, and so on. All this and other similar things cannot satisfy the soul. Something else satisfies and calms the soul. There is life by which the soul is enlivened; there is light by which the soul is enlightened; there is bread and food, with which the soul is strengthened; there is a drink with which she cools herself; there is a house in which she calms down; there is a sweetness that she enjoys; there is a robe with which she dresses, and so on. God alone for the soul, as His image and likeness, is light, life, food, drink, strengthening, cooling, consolation, amusement, joy, peace, peace, wealth, honor, glory and all bliss. Without God and apart from God, the soul cannot live, be calm and blissful. God is Love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16). How many ways do people invent to calm and please their souls, but they cannot invent anything in the world with which it would calm down and be satisfied. How much they collect wealth, how much they try to achieve high honor, how much they try to acquire great fame, how much they invent types of food, drinks, sweet foods, beautiful houses and buildings, clothes and other whims - but they cannot calm and satisfy their souls, and day by day they more and more desire and invent innovations and changes in everything. They cannot give peace and satisfaction to their souls: what is the reason for this? Because they are looking for what the soul does not calm down and is not content with, and not looking for that in which alone the soul finds peace and pleasure. All creatures, as the image and likeness of God, cannot calm and satisfy the soul. They lead her to God, but she calms down only in God. Saint David knew this well. Therefore, although he was the king of Israel, had wealth, honor and great glory, he considered all this for nothing, but with his soul he hurried to the living source - God. As a deer longs for springs of water, so does my soul long for You, O God! My soul thirsted for the Mighty, Living God (Ps. 42:2-3). And in another place he sings: I will be satisfied when Your glory appears to me (Ps. 16:15); that is, my soul cannot be satisfied and satisfied with anything other than You alone, O God! Then I will be satisfied and satisfied, when the glory of Your most holy Face shines upon me. Christian! This holy prophet teaches us by his example not to seek peace and pleasure for our souls in anything, but only in God alone. Why should we look for peace and pleasure where we cannot find it? The spirit in spirit, and not in matter, calms down. The soul, as having in itself the image and likeness of God, surpasses the whole world in its dignity and preciousness; for heaven and earth with their fulfillment are not worth a single human soul. Below God, but above all creatures, the human soul. The portrait of the King of the earth is precious for the sake of the King, since the image and likeness of the king is depicted in it; The human soul is also precious and magnificent, since the image and likeness of the Heavenly King is depicted in it. Why should her meanest creature be enslaved? Every creature is unworthy of it, for every creature is lower than the soul. Therefore, Christ, our Savior, thinking about the peace and bliss of our souls, and knowing us, those who have strayed to the basest state, and are practicing in earthly and vain things, and so working and toiling without any benefit, and regretting and condoling our misfortune, calls us to Himself, and He promises peace to our souls: Come to Me, all you who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28–29). O lost and poor people! Why do you work and seek peace where you cannot find peace? Leave your vain and useless plans and efforts, and come to Me, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29). You cannot find peace anywhere except Me. Hear, O Lord, my voice with which I cried, have mercy on me and hear me! My heart said to you: “I will seek the Lord.” My face has sought You; Your face, O Lord, will I seek. Do not turn Your Face away from me. I will be satisfied when Your glory appears to me (Ps. 27:7–9; 16:15). You might be interested in: