What matters

It cannot be assumed that a man will constantly see or feel the light or warmth of God. Yet both are constant and active, both in the light of this life as well as in its darkness, its coldness as well as its warmth, its happiness as well as its grief.

The way of the spirit is not to be measured exclusively by periods of light, warmth, joy, or fruitful activity.

Periods of impasse, of darkness engulfing the soul, of grief which oppresses the heart, periods of coldness paralyzing all spiritual emotion are inseparable parts of the narrow spiritual way.

Such conditions seem adverse, painful, and deadly.
What matters is how we face them.

This is what determines our worthiness to proceed further, completing the blessed struggle until we receive our crowns.

— Matthew the Poor

“Remember who your teachers were…”
2 Timothy 3:14