This present life is not a jest

  • This present life is not a jest nor a play­thing, although men have turned it into a jest and a play­thing. They heed­lessly play with time, given for prepa­ra­tion for eter­nity; they play with idle words. They assem­ble at their friends’, sit and talk idly, and then begin to play at some­thing. They go to the­atres, and there both the per­form­ers and the spec­ta­tors only amuse them­selves. Oth­ers amuse them­selves with their men­tal gifts, with human infir­mi­ties or virtues, with the capa­bil­ity of speak­ing or writ­ing well. Some even amuse them­selves with food and drink, using them in excess instead of only using them for sat­is­fy­ing the neces­si­ties of hunger and thirst. Some amuse them­selves with their clothes, with their faces; they amuse them­selves with their chil­dren, instead of edu­cat­ing them in faith, piety and the fear of God. Their whole life is an amuse­ment. But woe unto those who thus amuse themselves!

    St. John of Kro­n­stadt, “My Life in Christ”

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    I thought there was some­thing in that list for every­one, some­thing to elicit that lit­tle “ouch” of self-recognition no mat­ter what your cir­cum­stance. And as always when St. John is exco­ri­at­ing the the­ater as he knew it in his day, I won­der what in the world he would make of the movies, TV shows, rock con­certs and com­puter games we amuse our­selves with now.

    And what about the blogs? Ouch ouch!


    Related posts:

    1. How will it be with us in the future life?
    2. “My Life in Christ” by St. John of Kronstadt
    3. Feel the truth
    4. They see your heart

    May 7th, 2008 | Grace | 4 Comments |

4 Responses and Counting...

  • –c 05.07.2008

    Ouch, indeed!
    There were sev­eral things on that list “for me!”

    c

  • DebD

    Like –C, I found sev­eral ouchies.

  • Mimi

    Yeah, I’m ouched as well.

  • s-p

    Well, its a good thing my blog isn’t amus­ing. LOL! Yeah, ouch.

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