Towards True Light...

When I did my many book orders for my church

for Christmas and St. Nicholas day ordering,

plus normal spiritual reading that we do,

I finally ordered for Mr. Husband and I a 3 year 

subscription to The Orthodox Word,

a journal I have long loved.

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They sent an extra copy with our first issue,

this one to be exact:

and the talks by St. Barsanuphius have 

been just what I needed to read.

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A challenge but also an encouragement

to keep up the Christian Struggle.

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Something I've been struck with and find myself thinking on

throughout the day is the concept and understanding he 

speaks of in terms of heaven and hell starting now,

with what we put and allow in our souls.

Are we working on eradicating anger, greed, selfishness,

which make heaven absent in the soul...

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One of the themes I am noticing is that 

we struggle and fall but if we keep struggling as a 

Christian and thinking about eternity and the current and 

future state of our souls ... and turn to Christ in that struggle,

we will be saved. 

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It's at once heady and challenging reading,

but that which gives clarity, encouragement and a light to go 

towards, a Light that really is there.

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I am so thankful for such words.