Wonders of Spiritual Unfoldment

by John Butler

Realisation is both of the view seen, but also of the viewer, the witness, the one who sees – realising who and what that is. How does it happen? By our own efforts, we can only present ourselves as cleanly and attentively as possible – wait upon the Lord, and watch, and pray (Mat.26,41). Realisation comes, not at our bidding but, as it were, from the other side, like sunshine breaking through the cloud, or screen, of our ordinary, impure and dim perception (1Cor.13,12).

Unless I let God flow into me, God cannot flow out again, and my works will not be the works of God but the works of me, and correspondingly worthless.

Fr Zosima warns us to be watchful: “Every day and hour, every minute, walk alongside and observe yourself.”

Here, in Russia, a true friend may be called “A light in the window”. It means a warm heart waiting by the stove – and hot soup, too.

Prayer for one another is like holding hands as we cross a slippery road.

Most practice of prayer is patient plod – and I could add – the habit of early rising.

When all is said and done, in the end thus shall we find: He most of all doth bath in bliss, that hath a quiet mind.

Stillness is the peace that passeth understanding – being, that is, beyond mind – the rest eternal beyond time; the peace “not as the world giveth” (Rev.1,8; Heb.13,8; Phil.4,7; Jn.14,27).