Monday, August 06, 2007

Labour, Fortitude and Love in Action

There are some days in which the Apostle Paul's call to love in action seems only natural. And some days, perhaps like today, life in community demands much deeper understanding of active love. My favorite quote of all times convicts me much in these moments.

Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing, not at all like love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for action, rapidly performed in the sight of all. Men will even give their lives if only the ordeal does no last long but is soon over, with all looking on applauding as though on the stage. But active love is labour and fortitude, and for some people, too, perhaps a complete science. But I predict that just when you see with horror that inspite of all your efforts you are getting further from your goal instead of nearer to it - at that moment I predict that you will reach it and behold clearly the miraculous power of the Lord who has been all the time loving and mysteriously guiding you. - Fyodor Dostoevesy, The Brothers Karamazov