If Storm Comes

Blessed are meek; for they shall inherit the earth. (Mt.5, 5)

How clear the sky is reflected on a calm water surface with its bright stars, deep blue color and bright moon! But as soon as storm comes all these reflections disappear: water darkens, waves rise up with rocks and sand, the forces of nature  become loud and fearful, crashing rocks and bringing threat and destruction with itself.

Isn’t it the same what is happening in a human soul when irritation and anger possess it? There, where love was supposed to shine, where peace and calm were intended to be, harmony is suddenly destroyed, disagreement rises, wounds are made, and peaceful and friendly life is destroyed!

How could this storm happen in a soul? Where all of those clouds are coming from? Irritation is often a fruit of self-love, pride and desire of authority. We want people to let us have our way, to be agreed with, seek our will in everything; because every contradiction, every tiny trouble causes irritation in us, which gets blown up out of proportion by the demonic powers and possesses us, darkens our soul and brings a whole storm of anger and impatience.

If we were humble and meek nothing like that would happen! Lord, inviting us to  take His yoke upon us, gives us an example of humility and meekness, and promises to us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light and that we will find rest onto our souls. Learning from Lord, imitating Him, receiving His strength and walking His path we, first of all, must submit ourselves and tame every anger in our souls. The Kingdom of God can not come into irritable soul; there’s no God in a stormy soul! It is hard to fight a storm in a soul: it often comes unnoticed and unprepared soul often weakens and gets suppressed by heavy waves. We must be vigilant and, if storm comes, look immediately upon the One, whom Apostles woke up in a boat that was distressed by waves. “Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” (Mt.8, 26)

Let the Kingdom of God come into our soul and let the image of meek Savior be reflected in it!

(Translated by Tatiana Rozzell from “Every Day is a Gift from God. Diaries of an Orthodox Priest”, author unknown)