44. Высокое дерево посреди низкого леса

Like a tall tree in the middle of a low forest, so is a person in honor among vile people. The tall tree is visible to everyone from afar. Likewise, everyone sees the honor of a person who abides. The taller the tree, the further away many people see. Likewise, the higher the ruler, the more people know him and know what he does and says. A tall tree is exposed to every wind and storm, and is overwhelmed by every bad weather. So the high ruler is exposed to every temptation and disaster. And the higher the ruler, the more susceptible to temptation. Not everyone finds wind on a low tree, but on a tall tree, everyone blows and shakes it from everywhere. O beloved who sits on high! Be like a tall tree that sends its roots deep into the ground, and thus holds on and does not fall from the wind and storm. Deepen your faith and hope in the goodness and omnipotence of God, like an anchor in the depths of the sea. And so strengthen your heart, from the machinations of the enemy, as from a stormy wind. Do not be afraid, although a great storm arises from here and there and blows on you. Be faithful only to your Lord; and He with His omnipotent hand will hold and strengthen you. “Do not let your foot stumble; He who guards you will not sleep. Behold, he who guards Israel will not slumber or sleep. The Lord will keep you; The Lord is your covering from your right hand. The sun will not burn you during the day, and the moon will not burn you at night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; The Lord will preserve your soul. The Lord will guard your entrance and your going out from now on and forever” 9 (Ps. 121:3-8). When a tall tree standing in the middle of a low forest falls, its fall can be heard far away and will crush many low forests standing nearby. Likewise, when a shepherd or some other ruler falls into great sin, his fall will be heard far away and will offend many. It is impossible, truly impossible, to hide the falls of a shepherd and ruler, no matter how they hide them. Their fall will be heard far away, like tall fallen trees. He did this or that. Who? Bishop or priest, governor or voivode, prince or king, or some other ruler, or master of the house. The father will fall - and his children know about it. The master will fall - and his slaves know about it. The shepherd will fall - and people will know him. Everyone knows the judge will fall. The king will fall - and his fall can be heard everywhere. So David, king of Israel, fell, and everyone knew about his fall. And although he tried in every way to hide his fall, it spread everywhere so that the whole world knew. We see this even now. Today the authorities are falling - and everyone will know about their fall. O beloved, whom God has seated in a high place! Beware of falling with all your might, take courage and be strong. May you not fall, may you not, by falling, bring with you the fall of many, like a tall tree leading to a low forest. “If anyone thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). And if you fall, do not hesitate, but quickly get up and correct yourself. And then the fall will be rewarded with getting up and correction. David fell, but also rose. And, as we see in his psalms, he atoned for his fall with repentance and hot tears. Imitate you too, beloved, this king of Israel. Rise up well, and your fall will be covered. The prophet Nathan was sent to him from God. He himself was sent to you, fallen and risen, who by his rebellion and correction teaches you how to rise up and correct yourself. O you, sheep of Christ, living in simplicity and humility! Do not faint in your soul, beloved, when you hear the fall of a shepherd or any other ruler. He has the same weakness as other people, but, as stated above, he is subject to greater and more numerous temptations than others. In a visible battle, the enemy does not try to hurt and overthrow anyone more than the leaders of the army. Likewise, the enemy of Christian souls, the devil, does not try to plunge anyone into falling more than shepherds and other Christian authorities. This is all he is trying to do, how to damage and infect the Christian shepherd and leader, who can benefit others. To damage, I say, and to infect, so that he cannot do any good, but so that he himself goes and leads others with him to destruction. So, beware, beloved Christian, of condemning the fall of a leader, although you truly know. Much more beware of revealing his fall to others and sowing the temptation to sow slander. Do not be like Ham, the son of Noah, who declared his father’s shame to others. It is better to cover with your silence, as Shem and Japheth did, the same sons of Noah, who covered the shame of their father by turning back. Moreover, know that many false rumors are spreading about Christian shepherds and authorities, and this happens by the action of the common enemy of all - the devil, so that temptation is sown, and so there would be all sorts of disorder and confusion in Christian society. Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: