by Fr. Paul Siladi –
The space where you live is a reflection of your inner state.
The spiritual insight of the ancient Fathers draws our attention that our actions are judged along with our inner disposition. Small tasks and obligations we fulfill daily are not without consequence. The faith and consciousness with which you perform the smallest works are a reflection of your soul, and at the same time, what you do influences your interior life.
Therefore, start with the small things, which should never be ignored. Start by tidying up around you. Clean your house, or at least one corner of it in a day. You win a small victory over the outer chaos, and that victory will count in the total context of the spiritual warfare we are waging.
Like small waves, every change we make is reflected in our entire life. This is a movement that climbs up from the bottom up: from the smallest and most insignificant acts, it goes up gradually, until our whole being comes to be renewed.
But this is not the only direction. In parallel there is also a reverse movement. When the major guidelines of life have been established and assumed, when God’s choice has, as far as is humanly possible, been made, this becomes visible even in the smallest daily actions.
Attention, seriousness, lucid consciousness do not only refer to those things that ultimately influence our biographies, but are also seen at the level of detail, in any minor act.
Conscious of every action, assuming every gesture, you order your life, at the same time, you allow your fundamental choices to express themselves permanently.
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English translation of exceprts of Fr. Paul Siladi’s original Romanian article from Ziarul Lumina done by Chris Banescu. Every effort made to insure a faithful and accurate translation that preserved the Orthodox Christian ethos and the original meaning intended by Fr. Paul. Added bolding of key phrases for emphasis.
