They say that in the ancient Egypt dissensions broke between men like the ones from nowadays. Then two courageous friends from Alexandria decided to wander through the world to find a wise and happy man. After long and vain searches they arrived at a saint who lived in seclusion in a forest. This one bowed before them till the ground and received them gladly in his hut.
After they talked for a long time and they asked him questions, the travelers, being convinced they had found a man who had both wisdom and happiness, cried out loud: `Man of God but we can`t live like you! And then how to gain happiness?` The man of God started crying and raised his eyes to the skies and among tears he said: `You don`t need to live like me but in order to be happy follow these rules:
-think of God at least as much as you think of men
-fear God at least as much as you fear men
-honor God at least as much as you honor men
-pray to God at least as much as you beg the men
-have hope in God at least as much as you have in men
-ask for help from God at least as much as you ask from men
-fulfill the law of God at least as much as you fulfill the human law
-thank God at least as much as you thank men
-give glory to God at least as much as you give glory to men!
Hearing this lesson of life the friends returned home happily. I can only add one more thing: leaving aside this mere primer nobody could ever begin a hard handbook.
(Saint Nicholas Velimirovich)
Excerpt from Why I am not an angel Stories for spending time usefully –Sophia Publishing.
